eMates eMates 4th Issue May 2017 | Page 27

Some other students, V7th class, 17/18 years old: 1) 4 students knew/ 9 had no clear idea what ‘inclusion’ is. A quote: ‘I know only all-inclusive term so it might be a sort of study with permanent provision of something..¨’  After answering the question number 1, students were explained the meaning of ‘inclusion’ by Miss Opatová and were asked to write down more about their personal experience or opinion. 2) What is your opinion of/experience with inclusion? ‘Ev eryone is different, we should point at people’s strong points, not weak points because it can lower someone’s self-confidence. ‘ ‘But closing down special schools (for people with special needs) seems stupid.’ ‘School should be divided according to some rules (intelligence, logical thinking, ability to study, etc.). If you place a student into a class he doesn’t belong to he will suffer.’ ‘It is very prosperous for an individual to join a social group as it will help his future development.’ ‘The “different” person may not feel good among the clever and healthy ones. Will the social group accept the “different” individual as an equal member? (Kids can be cruel.) On the other hand, it may help one to adapt in the society.’ ‘I made an experience in the primary school. There were 30 pupils altogether in my school, all educated together, children from various social backgrounds and disabled children. In my opinion, this system is not good because mentally disabled children couldn’t fit in the group for two reasons: Small children were not very tolerant and the teachers had too much work with them in the lessons.’ To sum it up, opinions differed, it’s evident that one must know what the inclusion entails and be informed about the subject. Some students are in favour of inclusion, some are for division of students on basis of their abilities and studying skills which might be connected to the selective type of school they study. Our school is attended by the study-type students. But everyone agrees that everyone is an individual and you cannot judge the goldfish by its ability to climb the tree. (T. V., Š. O., K. B.) 27