Special Education - The Albatross

Special Education, through the continuing use of current delivery systems, will be the death of public education in the United States.
The weight of Special Education comes from the need for additional staff and services as stated in the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) developed for each labeled student. At first glance this seems to be a good idea - and it is. The educational/financial millstone begins weighing heavily if the student doesn't need or make good use of the additional staff or service. For example: Because of poor handwriting, his IEP requires a full-time note taker to go from class to class with him. Each day she takes his notes, while he doodles, and gives them to him at the end of the day. He never takes them home or looks at them. He takes a test and fails it. He and his mother blame the note taker. A meeting of the Committee on Special Education is called. All the facts are examined. The student is told that he needs to study for the tests. His mother says he never studies. The note taking service is continued. This scenario had been going on for two years. Service was always continued.

Everybody deserves a chance. But if the service is not taken advantage of, then the plug must be pulled.