A review of educators' attitudes toward handicapped children and the concept of mainstreaming

Literature is reviewed related to the attitudes of educators toward handicapped children and the concept of mainstreaming these youngsters into regular class settings. Opinionnaire data suggest that regular class educators, particularly those with little formal training or experience in special education, do not favor mainstreaming. Moreover, these educators view handicapped children as generally less able to benefit from schooling. Research is also reviewed that documents the relationship between teachers' attitudes toward individual pupils and the differential instructional treatment of children. Finally, efforts to modify the attitudes and perceptions of educators toward handicapped children and mainstreaming are presented.     

Perceived Value of Certification as a Process for Training Managers: A Case Study From the Hospitality Industry

This paper uses a qualitative research methodology to investigate the perceived value of certification as a process for training managers in the lodging industry. Using a “stakeholder group” to provide face validity, a dual-level sample was contacted, consisting of 10 high-ranking corporate-level managers and 185 hotel general managers. Respondents were asked to determine how they would distribute resources in support of various academic qualifications, including a certification program sponsored by the American Hotel and Motel Association—the “Certified Rooms Division Executive” (CRDE). Respondents also were asked to rank qualifications in terms of utility for hiring and promotion. The following major conclusions were reached. In the hospitality industry: (a) Certification is seen as a viable methodology for training in lower-level management skills, especially among those property level general managers who have little formal education; (b) there was a clear distinction between support for certification at the corporate vice-presidential level and the property general managers' level, with property level managers expressing greater support; and (c) the CRDE is “valued” above a generic two-year degree, in both hiring and first promotion, if other “personal” factors are ignored.