Mainstreaming in American Music Education Journals (1960–1989)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the reaction of the music education community to Section 504 and PL 94-142 regarding mainstreaming practices. A content analysis was conducted for the articles published between January 1, 1960, and December 31, 1989, in the Music Educators Journal (MEJ), Journal of Research in Music Education (JRME), and the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education (Bulletin). Research questions regarding the number of articles published, the ratio of research to pedagogical articles, disabilities addressed within the articles, and the affiliations and geographic locations of the article authors guided the analysis. Pedagogical articles were separated from research articles for analysis purposes. Based on the results of the analyses, the reaction to the legislation was one of enthusiasm for some while others had little or no reaction. Over a three-decade period (1960–1989), only forty-nine articles were published in the selected journals regarding mainstreaming in the music classroom. The articles were primarily pedagogical, with more than half of the articles published including information regarding various disabilities or Intellectual Disabilities specifically. A majority of the authors were affiliated with higher education institutions, with authors from Kansas producing the most articles by state. Implications and suggestions for further research are discussed.