Thesis (Ed.D.)--Teachers College, Columbia University. / Typescript; issued also on microfilm. Sponsor: Terri Astuto. Dissertation Committee: Francis Ianni. Bibliography: leaves 110-120.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Teachers College, Columbia University, 1975. / Typescript; issued also on microfilm. Sponsor: Marsha Weil. Dissertation Committee: Gary A. Griffin. Includes tables. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis--University of Florida. / Description based on print version record. Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-65).

Thesis (M. Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 94-98).

Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leave 94-98). Also available in print.

Thesis (M.S.)--Rowan University, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--Rowan University, 2008. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2005. / Supervisor: Stuart Reifel. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

This study was carried out in the Mthatha district of the Eastern Cape with the aim of assessing the respondents’ knowledge, attitudes and practices in successful inclusive classroom management at the Foundation Phase in their respective schools. The study adopted a mixed-method approach in which data was collected from secondary and primary sources. Secondary data were collected from literature sources and existing schools’ documents while primary data were collected from the respondents drawn from nine schools in Mthatha area (coded A to I for anonymity) using questionnaire, interview guides and focus group discussions checklists. The nine schools were purposively sampled based on schools with Foundation Phase Programme, while 15 respondents were randomly sampled from among the Foundation Phase teachers in the nine schools for this study. The data collected were subjected to various analytical techniques such as descriptive statistics, frequencies and cross tabulations as well as graphical representations using SPSS to be able to identify and list the main findings from the study. Results from the study based on 75% questionnaire response rate revealed that the respondents had high (79%) self-rating of inclusive education content knowledge despite the fact that they actually had low (over 80%) with poor or fair content knowledge on the knowledge scale. The respondents demonstrated a high degree (over 80%) of positive attitudes and good practices and management approach toward inclusive education despite the fact that they had low inclusive education content knowledge. Over 80% of the respondents revealed that their schools are not ready for inclusive classroom teaching and management due to lack of infrastructure, equipment, training, teacher support and teacher-special assistant. The results from the quantitative data were triangulated and validated by the findings from the qualitative in-depth interviews and focus group discussions which reinforced each other. The findings presented were limited to the respondents in the nine schools used in the study area. This study thus concludes that, a huge gap still exists between the desired level of the state of inclusive education and outcomes as expected from the White Paper 6 2001 in 2012. The study thus recommends the ample need for the departments of education as a matter of urgency, to emphasise the inclusion of inclusive education contents in the training and re-training of educators at the basic education phase. Furthermore, all schools should be provided with adequate infrastructural support in terms of equipment and classroom-friendly environment for learners with special needs.

A screening sample of 107 elementary school teachers completed a 16-item multiple-choice measure of knowledge of behavioral principles. Two subject groups, each consisting of 32 regular classroom teachers, were randomly selected for high and low knowledge groups based on scores on the knowledge measure. High and low knowledge group teachers were given random assignment to one of two clinical case descriptions. Both descriptions were of a 9-year old boy who is presented as being very aggressive, and who does not follow adult instructions. The two cases differed only in the type of background attributed to each. One is described as coming to the regular classroom as a result of 'mainstreaming', having been previously in a special class setting. The other case description makes no reference to mainstreaming or to previous placement. Teachers in all conditions evaluated the acceptability of four alternative classroom treatment strategies for children: Medication, Time Out from Reinforcement, Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior, and Positive Practice. Teachers in the high and low knowledge groups read the assigned case description, and then rated the acceptability of the treatments in a 4 x 4 replicated Latin-square design using treatment acceptability measures developed by Kazdin (1980a). Following treatment ratings, subjects completed a questionnaire which, in part, asked subjects to rank order the described treatments on the basis of likelihood of each being used by the subject doing the rating. High knowledge group teachers rated treatments as more acceptable than did low knowledge group teachers on the primary dependent measure. Treatments were readily differentiated in terms of acceptability. Reinforcement was rated more acceptable than Time Out and Positive Practice, which did not differ from each other in terms of acceptability. Medication was rated lower in acceptability than the other treatments. Treatment acceptability ratings were not different for the two case descriptions. The results of the ranking of treatments on the Case and Treatment Questionnaire generally followed those of the rating procedure. The results of the analyses indicate that teachers do differentiate treatments in terms of acceptability using both the rating and ranking procedures. It is also apparent that the high knowledge group teachers tend to rate alternative classroom treatments as more acceptable than do the low knowledge group teachers. These findings are discussed, and implications for education and for future research are presented. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate