PHILOSOPHY OF CHANGES IN THE POLISH EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM FOUND IN THE SPHERE OF SOCIAL INTEGRATION OF THE YOUTH WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

Abstract

Philosophy of action taken towards disabled people should not come down to bringing direct help, but rather be based on organising conditions which would allow the disabled for easier start in education or on a job market, unhindered participation in social life. In that context, the school becomes a unique place and it has special tasks in the area of building social climate for integration.

Social integration is regarded as the highest form of a spontaneous participation in every social group on the basis of an able-bodied membership. It is aimed to counteract segregation, isolation, intolerant tendencies and discrimination of the disabled. A number of people and institutions get engaged in the process of social integration of the disabled students at each level of their education that co-operate with each other based on a network.

Social integration of students with special educational needs in the context of philosophy changes in the Polish system of education becomes a topic for further deliberations taken up for the use of the following article. All the arguments and reflections were based on thematic reference materials and results gathered during the survey conducted among the group of teachers employed at middle and secondary schools working with integrated classes in Mazowieckie and Lubelskie provinces.

Main objective for the research was an attempt to prove: if based on the teachers’ long term experience while working with integrated classes, it was possible to lead to social integration of the disabled young people with other members of school community, including peer groups – in the context of  philosophy of changes taking place in the Polish educational system.

Key words: philosophy of changes, social integration, youth with special educational needs, Polish system of education.