An extensive deconstruction of the 1984 'Integration in Victorian Education' document (the founding and still relevant document concerning integration). It is extensive because it moves into a discussion of two competing discourses within Western society; social justice and egalitarianism vs. an increasing move towards economic rationalism. The central argument of the paper is that the development of an integration policy formulated in a climate of social justice was not entirely successful in reforming an education system that has (and is) been driven by market forces. There is an interesting discussion about what has happened in Victorian schools around integration and how economic rationalism has manipulated the social justice imperative - the attempt to gain more resources and money for the school has resulted in an extraordinary increase in the number of children labelled 'disabled' or in some way deficient. Keyword: Theory
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Integration of students with disabilities; Confusing social justice and economic imperatives
Written Material