The Attitude Of Preservice Elementary Teachers In A Comprehensive University In Southeast America Towards Inclusive Education

Inclusion is a trend of education which brings about a change of the role of general education teachers. And the attitude of general education teachers toward inclusion is related to their opinions and behaviors towards students with disability in their classroom. Many factors in the system of inclusive education have influence on attitude of preservice teachers towards inclusive education. And the contact category with individuals with disability and the quality of teacher training are core factors having impact on the attitude of preservice general teachers towards inclusive education. However, it is revealed that many general education teachers have resistant attitude towards inclusive education for the reason that they are not prepared well to teach students with special needs, and the negative attitude impedes the development of inclusive education practice. While teacher training program has changed a lot in the era of diversity and inclusion education and this change maybe lead to the attitude change of preservice general education teachers now towards inclusive education.This research is to investigate how the attitude of preservice elementary teacher in one university towards inclusive education is and how training level and contact category with people with disability impact preservice teachers' attitude. The research found that, generally speaking, these preservice teachers have positive attitude towards inclusion recognizing the benefits of inclusion and the important function of cooperative teaching and differentiated instruction in inclusion practice. While they are lack of specific knowledge and skills related to inclusive education practice. It is suggested that the general elementary teachers training program of this university should take steps to improve their instruction on inclusive education practice. And it is revealed that the contact category with individuals with disability have different impact on the attitude of preservice teachers on different training level towards inclusive education.