Este trabalho, de natureza qualitativa, discute a função das classes especiais para deficientes mentais em nossa sociedade tendo em vista seus aspectos social e histórico, numa visão crítica de inclusão escolar. A inclusão escolar é defendida como forma de garantia de igualdade ao deficiente mental e, as classes especiais, como empecilho a isso. A pesquisa, apoiada em questões como ideologia, inclusão marginal, construção e desconstrução de conceitos, bem como, na opinião de professores do ensino fundamental da rede pública do município de Osasco, demonstra que as classes especiais para deficientes mentais exercem uma função definida em nossa sociedade. Por isso, seu fechamento, ausente de uma análise que leve à conscientização de tal função, produzirá outros mecanismos. A classe especial para deficientes mentais justifica a exclusão e, por isso, tem papel definido na sociedade de classes em que vivemos. As entrevistas com os professores que atuam em classes especial e comum demonstram seu conceito de inclusão, classe especial e deficiente. Há um sentimento romântico que cerca um certo discurso inclusivo em que, aceitar o deficiente depende, apenas, de boa vontade. Isso gera deturpações no que diz respeito tanto ao real entendimento da questão como a possíveis mudanças. Com base em autores com posições críticas, a dissertação constituiu a tentativa de entender a construção de conceitos na sociedade e, conseqüentemente, na escola, como normalidade e igualdade, a fim de compreender o radical de determinadas atitudes referentes ao aluno deficiente. A pesquisa teórica, aliada às entrevistas semiestruturadas com professores, constituiu maneira de perceber como determinados padrões foram e são produzidos e reproduzidos pela e na escola. / This qualitative paper investigates the role of special classrooms for mentally handicapped individuals in our society. We consider both social and historical aspects in a critical analysis based upon the process of inclusion at schools. This is frequently viewed as a means of ensuring equality between the mentally handicapped and non-mentally handicapped learners, being the special classrooms seen as barriers to it. The research based not only on issues such as ideology, marginal inclusion, forming concepts and destroying them, but also on opinions expressed by elementary public school instructors in the city of Osasco demonstrates that special classrooms for the mentally handicapped play a clear role in our society. Thus, its closure lacking thoughtful consciousness of such a role will produce other mechanisms. Classrooms for mentally handicapped people justify the exclusion; therefore, their role is clearly defined in our segmented society. The interviews with the teachers, who work in both special and regular classrooms, show their concepts of inclusion, special classrooms and of handicapped learners. There is a romantic feeling surrounding a certain inclusion speech in that to accept handicapped students depends exclusively on goodwill. It causes misconceptions on the factual meaning of the issue and possible changes. By studying authors showing critical approaches, the dissertation consisted of a try to understand how concepts such as normality and equality are formed in the society and consequently in schools in order to comprehend the origin of certain attitudes towards disabled students. Theoretical research associated with semistructured interviews with teachers has been an attempt to understand how certain standards were and are produced and reproduced in and by schools.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1978. / Typewritten.

A healthy and positive relationship between educators and learners is an important aspect in the establishment and sustainability of a nurturing and enabling school environment. However, research pertaining to South African schools shows that schools currently face many challenges that threaten relationships in schools and adversely affect the general well-being of the individuals concerned. The situation is problematic in every school context, but even more so in schools where risk factors are present in a concentrated form, as is the case in schools of skills. The researcher has been involved as a school counsellor at various schools of skills in the Western Cape for the past three years and has noticed that schools of skills are often exposed to various risk factors that influence the daily interaction between educators and learners and also impede the fostering of a healthy relationship between educators and learners. It is therefore logical that the relationship between educators and learners in schools of skills is influenced by the particular circumstances and that the relevant risk factors could be contributing to the current situation in schools of skills. Limited research about the relationship between educators and learners in the context of schools of skills impedes the situation even more. This research study aims to make a contribution to the solution of the identified problem by investigating ways in which the relationships between educators and learners can be improved within the context of schools of skills in the Western Cape. A literature study and empirical investigation were undertaken to achieve a better understanding of the relationship between educators and learners in schools of skills and the way the respective parties experience it (the relationship). Therefore, the nature of the structure of this research study is qualitative phenomenological because it incorporates an investigation into the social relationships that connect educators and learners. The research study was done in four schools of skills in the Western Cape that is representative of the different settlement contexts in South Africa, namely urban, semi-urban and rural. The participants in the four various schools include educators (n=42) and learners (n=122). The collection of data took place in four phases and the following qualitative data collection methods were used: qualitative open-ended questionnaires and semi-structured individual interviews for educators as well as collages and semi-structured focus group interviews for learners. Thematic analysis of the respective data sets showed that the relationships between educators and learners can be improved by considering the contextual challenges both educators and learners are confronted with. Besides considering the contextual challenges it is also important to create spaces where relationships can be improved and learners can feel safe. This seems to be mainly the responsibility of the educators and can be done by setting clear boundaries and upholding healthy discipline. It was further demonstrated that the relationship between educators and learners in schools of skills can be improved by acting towards each other in such a way that mutual respect, mutual trust, the provision of care and support and open communication can be established as relationship-improving interaction patterns. In the light of the study’s findings, specific guidelines are provided to the educator at the school of skills and clear recommendations are made to the Department of Education with the aim of improving classroom relationships in schools of skills. In conclusion, recommendations are also made about further research to improve relationships between educators and learners in schools of skills. / Thesis (MA (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

A healthy and positive relationship between educators and learners is an important aspect in the establishment and sustainability of a nurturing and enabling school environment. However, research pertaining to South African schools shows that schools currently face many challenges that threaten relationships in schools and adversely affect the general well-being of the individuals concerned. The situation is problematic in every school context, but even more so in schools where risk factors are present in a concentrated form, as is the case in schools of skills. The researcher has been involved as a school counsellor at various schools of skills in the Western Cape for the past three years and has noticed that schools of skills are often exposed to various risk factors that influence the daily interaction between educators and learners and also impede the fostering of a healthy relationship between educators and learners. It is therefore logical that the relationship between educators and learners in schools of skills is influenced by the particular circumstances and that the relevant risk factors could be contributing to the current situation in schools of skills. Limited research about the relationship between educators and learners in the context of schools of skills impedes the situation even more. This research study aims to make a contribution to the solution of the identified problem by investigating ways in which the relationships between educators and learners can be improved within the context of schools of skills in the Western Cape. A literature study and empirical investigation were undertaken to achieve a better understanding of the relationship between educators and learners in schools of skills and the way the respective parties experience it (the relationship). Therefore, the nature of the structure of this research study is qualitative phenomenological because it incorporates an investigation into the social relationships that connect educators and learners. The research study was done in four schools of skills in the Western Cape that is representative of the different settlement contexts in South Africa, namely urban, semi-urban and rural. The participants in the four various schools include educators (n=42) and learners (n=122). The collection of data took place in four phases and the following qualitative data collection methods were used: qualitative open-ended questionnaires and semi-structured individual interviews for educators as well as collages and semi-structured focus group interviews for learners. Thematic analysis of the respective data sets showed that the relationships between educators and learners can be improved by considering the contextual challenges both educators and learners are confronted with. Besides considering the contextual challenges it is also important to create spaces where relationships can be improved and learners can feel safe. This seems to be mainly the responsibility of the educators and can be done by setting clear boundaries and upholding healthy discipline. It was further demonstrated that the relationship between educators and learners in schools of skills can be improved by acting towards each other in such a way that mutual respect, mutual trust, the provision of care and support and open communication can be established as relationship-improving interaction patterns. In the light of the study’s findings, specific guidelines are provided to the educator at the school of skills and clear recommendations are made to the Department of Education with the aim of improving classroom relationships in schools of skills. In conclusion, recommendations are also made about further research to improve relationships between educators and learners in schools of skills. / Thesis (MA (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 140-149).

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1990.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1991. / Also available in print.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 140-149) Also available in print.