One year has passed since the legislation mandating "mainstreaming" was enacted. Individual school districts have interpreted the laws for their own needs and have set up programs based on those needs. Although programs for the handicapped youths have increased, so has the isolation and segregation that permeated the sparsely existing…

Dr. Stephen R. Pickard is currently serving as an adjunct professor at Gardner-Webb University located in Boiling Springs North Carolina. He is a retired educator having served 21 years as a classroom teacher at both the middle and elementary levels. In addition to his service as a classroom teacher, Dr. Pickard served as a public school…

Present systems of accountability, which require excessive paperwork and force teachers into the "Directive Teaching Model," cause special education teachers to be accountable to the system rather than to self-actualization needs of students. Special education teachers must have the freedom and training to create "unique"…

The purpose of this study was to investigate preservice teacher candidates' attitudes and confidence levels in working with students with special needs. Confidence levels have been shown to increase with training, exposure to specific situations, and knowledge utilizing explicit interventions. Also examined were the strengths and improvement of a…

Cooperating teachers rated student teachers on ability to work with children having learning disabilities and/or emotional/behavior disorders. No significant differences were found between students with prior special education field experience and those without. Further research is needed to identify training methods that increase ability to work…