Special Education.

[hawke86]

When I was a child I was in special education up to the sixth grade that was because where I lived. When I moved to another state the board of education said I was to smart for it. If I would have graduated high school from the state that I went to elementary school in. I would have been able to continue my education in special education. I felt that I learned more in special education then regular school. The teachers in special education cared more about their students compared to regular classes. I feel like that I would have made it farther in life if I finished with special education. I don't know how anyone else feels about special education.

[alivenwell]

I have mixed feelings about special education. I personally know some kids who are socialized with non-special education students and that works well for them. I also know students who feel different, left out and stigmatized. And, I know some kids who need that extra attention and push to get their work done.

It's an individual decision.

Too many kids are placed in special education today because too many get diagnosed with ADHD. They developed Wrights' Law because of that issue. Some schools get extra funding when they have more students in special education. That concept disturbs me.

[drarvindr]

wit alivenwell. WAY too many kids get diagnosed with ADHD nowadays. Doctors are more willing to accept zebras than horses ( old medical addage : when you hear hoof beats - think horses , not zebras). Parents are also more anxious than ever before and feel their kid has ADHD when he doesn't pay attention all the time. It is humanly impossible to always be alert and attentive. We need to take a step back andlet the kids cope on their own.
I personally feel that you recieved the best kind of education. Partially special ed and partially the "normal" system. In today's world , keeping kids sheltered from the harsh realities of life is not the way to teach them about how to cope. The world is a bitter and ugly place filled with stupid people who abuse the mentally and physically challenged calling them "retards and spazzes". Kids need to learn to cope with the "normal" kids and their bs, which special ed cannot provide. school is about learning to deal with the problems that life chucks at you.But i also feel that the amount of special ed or normal ed should depend on the level of impairment.

[Bee91]

I am in special education. In fact we have a meeting with my teachers tomorrow. I'm not in it because I have a learning disability. I do however, (as well as my teachers) feel it is a good idea to have me under an IEP and in a special education program. Because of the head injuries, I am a lot slower at tasks that I used to be able to do very quickly and now very forgetful. And either because of the meds, head injury, brain damage, or whatever, I have a hard time learning new concepts. Especially in math. This is my last year of high school and I am short a credit. If I don't have extra help in my classes there would be no way I would be graduating this year. I have one on one help when needed. But when I am able to work by myself, I do.
I do agree though, there are some kids, even that I know in my classes, that I think shouldn't be there. But I think schools have to be careful as to who they choose to keep in special ed. and who they put in regular ed. I think there is sometimes a very fine line for some kids.

[RobinN]

Rebecca is also in a class that falls under the special education label. In a regular English class she was having difficulty when she had memory loss due to her seizures. She had a D at best. However, with accomodations for her medical issues she is able to manage the subject much better and has an A. She is not headed for a 4 yr college right away so this is the best place for her to learn basic standards.

I agree with you Hawke... now a days you would be allowed to remain in the program, because they only let those that have been tested to show an imbalance between intelligence and learning difficulites.

[sixpack]

I was a teacher until I had so many kids(we just decided I'd stay home with the little ones) So I know both sides--educator and parent. I also have two kids with IEPS---Lindsay, who obviously, definitely needed to be out of the mainstream classroom. And Anna who has lower muscle tone and some kind of language expression disorder. Anna is in the reg classroom with accomodations. Yes, she still struggles with written expression and some of the higher level thinking skills, but I think the reg class with help is what's good for her rather than a self-contained special ed class.

There are many ways to approach teaching kids with disablities. The hard part is getting both parents and educators on the same page on which is the best for kids. Some parents are absolutely opposed to have their kids in a self-contained class when that's where their kids should be. And there are educators who don't think some kids need any help at all. So IMO if you can get parents/educators together, you've got a winning combo.

It's also true that while ALL states are federally required to have special ed and educate everyone, each state has their own way of doing things. I've lived in 6 states--4 as an adult with kids. The four states had very different ways of meeting the fed requirements. Some states have a bunch more $$$ and can do a bunch of extras. Our last state was not able to do the extras but the state I live in now is amazingly progressive.

[Bee91]

My old school did not keep their end of their deal with us. I was on a 504 to start off. They started me off on home instruction. They were going to come to my house for 4 hours a week. They came 45 minutes a week. They finally put me on an IEP, but after they put me on it, they wanted me to withdrawl from the school. Without telling us where to go. The entire school year, I was there probably three months in all. But unable to catch up because I was so far behind. At my new school, they are so much better. They are much more organized and helpful.



I'm sorry this is kind of out of the subject, but I had an IEP meeting yesterday, and I learned, if I wouldn't be having problems with seizures and everything, I would be in Advanced Placement Calculus right now.

[brain]

I had ALWAYS been on IEP, but not always under the
Special Ed, I bounced back and forth and in between
during my School heydays.

However, as for my son, he was always under the Special
Ed and under the IEP.

So there's a huge contrast between my son and I and
I am dead serious about it! Quite a big contrast which
cannot be marked in comparison between my son and I.