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‘When something is different people fear it’: children's perceptions of an arts‐based inclusion project
Author(s) -
WHITEHURST TERESA,
HOWELLS AMY
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
support for learning
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.25
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1467-9604
pISSN - 0268-2141
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9604.2006.00399.x
Subject(s) - mainstream , inclusion (mineral) , feeling , perception , the arts , alienation , psychology , pedagogy , musical , mainstreaming , developmental psychology , social psychology , special education , visual arts , political science , art , neuroscience , law
In this article Teresa Whitehurst and Amy Howells describe how pupils and staff from mainstream and special settings worked together on a project, resulting in a musical performance. They demonstrate at the outset that, even after several decades of ‘integration’ and then inclusion, there remains an attitudinal hurdle to overcome. Mainstream pupils in this study report feelings of fear, lack of preparation and alienation with regard to pupils with severe and c o m p l ex learning difficulties. The project in question prompted these pupils to significantly change their perceptions of their peers with learning difficulties, a process substantially assisted by the involvement of all children in the production of a school performance.