Inclusive schooling - Middle school teachers' perceptions

According to the Special Education Law passed in 1988, inclusion is the man dated educational policy in Israeli schools. This article presents an overv iew of Israeli middle school teachers' perceptions regarding inclusive scho oling. One hundred and sixteen middle-school teachers in central Israel wer e asked to define inclusion and to discuss the major difficulties they enco untered in inclusive classes as well as the benefits of effective integrati on. The great majority of the teachers expressed the need to increase their knowledge about the requirements of students with learning disabilities an d evinced their readiness to adjust their teaching methods. On the other ha nd, they stressed the need for professional guidance and adequate tools and conditions. Recommendations for obtaining the training and support necessa ry for successful inclusion are offered.