What are some pros and cons of a special education program?

In addition to what's already been stated: Pro- can provide much needed services to students at a free cost to parents. Think of children with severe disabilities who are medically fragile (cerebral palsy, short gut syndrome, visually or hearing impaired, TBI, etc.) who get free occupational, physical, speech therapy and nursing services, among others from the ages of 3-22. Con- some children can be made more disabled than need by parents/ teachers who don't push them to do what they can do (this can occur for all levels of students). I get so sick of all the excuses for behavior a disability can provide. When I see an ADHD kid hide a cigarette she found for a month, and then hide it in her bra to bring it to school to show her friends, I can't say that's an impulsive act, but that's what her dad (and the kid's therapist) said! Bah. Pro- proper intervention can help students make progress. There are very good programs out there for children with Learning Disabilities, and very well written IEPs that really do provide for progress for students. There are a lot of great teachers working in special education. Con- there are times and situations where interventions given in general ed are better than the interventions available to special education students. This can be why inclusion is better for many high incidence (i.e.: LD) special education students. Pro- can be helpful to parents and teachers to help understand a student's needs. Some people genuinely want to understand how to help a student, without ulterior motives. Con- In order for this to happen, both must read, understand, and support IEPs. Sadly, special education can be misunderstood by both parents and teachers, and abused greatly by both. Some parents are bucking for SSI checks, some teachers want kids to 'disappear' from their classrooms. There are many cases where neither happens. Pro- Special education has moved more toward being a service than a place, at least where I work. Con- Individual schools are often stuck between a rock and a hard place. I personally believe one of the goals of NCLB is to reduce federal and state funding for special education. However, parents are given many rights and are able to sue districts for outrageous amounts if children don't qualify and the results are contested. I personally hate it when a child is placed and then unilaterally moved, and the school doesn't even get a chance. I feel the team has been used, especially when the school gets a bill. On the flip side, there are the parents who feel I am satan for suggesting their child has a problem. I had a parent tell me that God doesn't make mistakes and that they would pray for me. Thanks, but what about the fact that your kid isn't going to be able to read well enough to pass the graduation exam? I've had a parent of a severely autistic child tell me that her child could read and understand the Bible, of all things. And well have all these different interpretations of the bible, but he's got it? Ok, I digress, sorry. I think I say all of this to say, where adults are concerned, special education doesn't always bring out the best in us, which is a shame. In the end, the benefits and detriments to individual children should always be considered in every case.

In addition to what's already been stated: Pro- can provide much needed services to students at a free cost to parents. Think of children with severe disabilities who are medically fragile (cerebral palsy, short gut syndrome, visually or hearing impaired, TBI, etc.) who get free occupational, physical, speech therapy and nursing services, among others from the ages of 3-22. Con- some children can be made more disabled than need by parents/ teachers who don't push them to do what they can do (this can occur for all levels of students). I get so sick of all the excuses for behavior a disability can provide. When I see an ADHD kid hide a cigarette she found for a month, and then hide it in her bra to bring it to school to show her friends, I can't say that's an impulsive act, but that's what her dad (and the kid's therapist) said! Bah. Pro- proper intervention can help students make progress. There are very good programs out there for children with Learning Disabilities, and very well written IEPs that really do provide for progress for students. There are a lot of great teachers working in special education. Con- there are times and situations where interventions given in general ed are better than the interventions available to special education students. This can be why inclusion is better for many high incidence (i.e.: LD) special education students. Pro- can be helpful to parents and teachers to help understand a student's needs. Some people genuinely want to understand how to help a student, without ulterior motives. Con- In order for this to happen, both must read, understand, and support IEPs. Sadly, special education can be misunderstood by both parents and teachers, and abused greatly by both. Some parents are bucking for SSI checks, some teachers want kids to 'disappear' from their classrooms. There are many cases where neither happens. Pro- Special education has moved more toward being a service than a place, at least where I work. Con- Individual schools are often stuck between a rock and a hard place. I personally believe one of the goals of NCLB is to reduce federal and state funding for special education. However, parents are given many rights and are able to sue districts for outrageous amounts if children don't qualify and the results are contested. I personally hate it when a child is placed and then unilaterally moved, and the school doesn't even get a chance. I feel the team has been used, especially when the school gets a bill. On the flip side, there are the parents who feel I am satan for suggesting their child has a problem. I had a parent tell me that God doesn't make mistakes and that they would pray for me. Thanks, but what about the fact that your kid isn't going to be able to read well enough to pass the graduation exam? I've had a parent of a severely autistic child tell me that her child could read and understand the Bible, of all things. And well have all these different interpretations of the bible, but he's got it? Ok, I digress, sorry. I think I say all of this to say, where adults are concerned, special education doesn't always bring out the best in us, which is a shame. In the end, the benefits and detriments to individual children should always be considered in every case.

There are many pros and cons of special education programs. As a special ed teacher I can testify to many on both sides. A pro to being in special education is the team that is assembled if a student qualifies for special ed called the IEP team will create a very personalized education program that will focus on the needs of a student. This can vary from anything from problems in math to writing to reading comprehension. The program is checked several times throughout the year to see if it does fit the student and is benefiting the student or if something needs to change. This can also be a con. If the team does not carefully analze the student or does not do the follow up process, this does not work. Another pro is the special education teacher is trained in different teaching strategies than the general education teacher. These teachers can recognize something in students that some general ed teachers cannot. They can also look outside the box. Con is most special education teachers are very overworked. Most times these teachers barely have time to take care of the paperwork that is involved. Pro is that most times students are able to be identified early and many of those with learning disabilities do not stay in special education their whole education career. Con is that many students are enabled and are in special ed when they do not need to be. There are many others but I believe these are some of the tops.

CON- Schools do not follow the laws and legal process in identifying, evaluating, classying a child for possible special ed eligiblity. CON- There is no enforcement to make schools follow the laws and do right. They violate FEDERAL laws , that if anyone else in the USA violated they would be put in prison and/or pay fines. Schools are EXEMPT from the federal IDEA law. CON- Schools 'say' they don't have enough money for special ed, so they do wahtever they can (cheat, lie, etc) to keep kids out. BUT, the IDEA law itself states that schools can NOT do this. PLUS, schools GIVE BACK lots of their special ed money EVERY YEAR!! CON - Teachers are not 'highly qualified and trained' like they are mandated to be by law. There are teacher shortages so some schools just accept anyone that comes thru the door CON- Schools are wanting to push the 'inclusion' of special ed kids with reg ed kids, a 'one size fits all' for the SCHOOLS CONVIENCE, and NOT to help the child. Some kids can NOT learn in an inclusion setting. The best site for learning all the corruption of special ed in schools is www.wrightslaw.com This site is owned by Pete Wright, the top special ed attorney in the US. He has seen and heard everything. And he will let everyone know about it, too

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