Teachers' Attitudes and Beliefs About Inclusion in Curacao

• In Event: Advocating for Equity in 21st Century Education

Abstract

This study examined the attitudes and beliefs of general and special education teachers towards the inclusion of students with special education needs. The study investigated the correlation between both groups of teachers’ attitudes. Eighty three teachers from the public-school system on the island of Curacao participated in the study. The questionnaire, My Thinking about Inclusion Scale, was used. The results revealed that general education and special education teachers both held similar views of inclusion, which were positive. Both groups believed the implementation of inclusive service delivery models would likely succeed if properly vetted with support from stakeholders even though programmatic changes would be challenging due to an entrenched system of educating students with special education needs in separate schools.

Authors

• Joseph Sencibaugh, Webster University

• Angela Michelle Sencibaugh, Valley Park School District

• Jennifer Bond, Ferguson-Florissant School District