Special Education

Sir, - What a dreadful decision you report in your edition of August 2nd

Sir, - What a dreadful decision you report in your edition of August 2nd. It is unbelievable that special education is to be removed from the Department of Education and Science.

What is education? Have we got a philosophy of education in this State? Is anybody out there willing to discuss a philosophy of education? Where does integration and inclusion fit into the scheme? Are we going to become complete segregationists, when every other country in the developed world has moved on to inclusion?

Contrary to what is stated in your report, I believe there are people in the Department who have considerable expertise in special education. There are teachers with expertise working in the schools and there are academics in third-level institutions. They should be co-ordinated under the Department of Education and Science. If we remove Special Education from the Department we are taking a step backwards towards what was viewed as the medical model and later the psychometric model. Services to people with special needs have moved on and should now be viewed under the social model.

Children with special needs have a right not to be separated from their peers. - Yours, etc.,

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Maura Donnelly, King Edward Lawn, Bray, Co Wicklow.