Biomaterial Database

Topical issues education: teaching controversial or sensitive topics to students with learning disabilities. 1995

J E Leigh, and S L Huntze, and S Lamorey

Department of Special Education, University of Missouri-Columbia 65211, USA.

This study investigated the extent to which a sample of 407 special education teachers addressed various topical issues with students who have learning disabilities, mental retardation, or behavior disorders. A survey instrument was employed to gather information pertaining to 45 topical issues that involve controversial or sensitive subjects typically not addressed in the traditional academic curriculum in school. Results indicated that the majority of topical issues are addressed only to a very limited extent with students with disabilities. A 3 x 2 factorial analysis of variance, followed by post hoc comparisons using Scheffé's test, indicated that topical issues are addressed to the greatest extent with students with behavior disorders and to the least extent with students with learning disabilities. Results also indicated differences in the extent to which elementary- and secondary-level students with disabilities receive information from special education teachers about topical issues, with a greater emphasis on coverage of topical issues occurring at the secondary level. Possible explanations for the findings are discussed, followed by implications for special education teachers and recommendations for future research involving topical issues education for students with learning disabilities.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007859	Learning Disabilities	Conditions characterized by a significant discrepancy between an individual's perceived level of intellect and their ability to acquire new language and other cognitive skills. These may result from organic or psychological conditions. Relatively common subtypes include DYSLEXIA, DYSCALCULIA, and DYSGRAPHIA.	Adolescent Learning Disabilities,Adult Learning Disabilities,Child Learning Disabilities,Developmental Academic Disability,Developmental Academic Disorder,Developmental Disabilities of Scholastic Skills,Learning Disabilities, Adolescent,Learning Disabilities, Child,Learning Disorders,Academic Disorder, Developmental,Adult Learning Disorders,Developmental Disorders of Scholastic Skills,Learning Disorders, Adult,Learning Disturbance,Scholastic Skills Development Disorders,Academic Disabilities, Developmental,Academic Disability, Developmental,Academic Disorders, Developmental,Adolescent Learning Disability,Adult Learning Disability,Adult Learning Disorder,Child Learning Disability,Developmental Academic Disabilities,Developmental Academic Disorders,Disabilities, Adolescent Learning,Disabilities, Adult Learning,Disabilities, Child Learning,Disabilities, Developmental Academic,Disabilities, Learning,Disability, Adolescent Learning,Disability, Adult Learning,Disability, Child Learning,Disability, Developmental Academic,Disability, Learning,Disorder, Learning,Disorders, Adult Learning,Disorders, Learning,Disturbance, Learning,Disturbances, Learning,Learning Disabilities, Adult,Learning Disability,Learning Disability, Adolescent,Learning Disability, Adult,Learning Disability, Child,Learning Disorder,Learning Disorder, Adult,Learning Disturbances
D008297	Male		Males
D008923	Missouri	State bounded on the east by Illinois and Kentucky, on the south by Arkansas, on the west by Kansas, and on the north by Iowa.
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002653	Child Behavior Disorders	Disturbances considered to be pathological based on age and stage appropriateness, e.g., conduct disturbances and anaclitic depression. This concept does not include psychoneuroses, psychoses, or personality disorders with fixed patterns.	Childhood Behavior Disorders,Behavior Disorder, Child,Behavior Disorder, Childhood,Child Behavior Disorder,Childhood Behavior Disorder,Disorder, Childhood Behavior
D003479	Curriculum	A course of study offered by an educational institution.	Curricula,Short-Term Courses,Course, Short-Term,Courses, Short-Term,Short Term Courses,Short-Term Course
D004495	Education of Intellectually Disabled	The teaching or training of those individuals with subnormal intellectual functioning.	Education of Mentally Defective,Education of Mentally Retarded,Education, Mentally Retarded,Mentally Retarded Education,Disabled Education, Intellectually,Disabled Educations, Intellectually,Intellectually Disabled Education,Intellectually Disabled Educations,Mentally Defective Education
D004519	Education, Special	Education of the individual who markedly deviates intellectually, physically, socially, or emotionally from those considered to be normal, thus requiring special instruction.	Special Education,Educations, Special,Special Educations
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man