Self-contained or mainstreamed: Which is the best environment for MR students in art

This study examined the art education of mentally retarded students in both mainstreamed and self-contained art room settings to determine which setting is most effective for art instruction of the mentally retarded. It was hypothesized that productivity would increase in the mainstreamed art setting but that mainstreaming would negatively affect the mentally retarded students' confidence and the quality of their social interactions. The mentally retarded students in the study ranged in grade levels from kindergarten to fifth grade and were observed for the first two quarters of the school year. Three of the highest-level mentally retarded students completed a questionnaire and were interviewed about their mainstreaming experiences. The conclusion was that students' art productivity increased overall in the mainstreamed setting, but students' confidence and the quality of their social interactions depended on the characteristics and abilities of each individual student.