Get Schooled

By Dick

April 5, 2007 8:28 AM | Link to this

I think we are putting too much money into special ed myself.

By Jimmie Willis

April 5, 2007 8:30 AM | Link to this

The problem is these separate but equal schools they got here in GA. When they started integrating the schools is when it got all messed up. Now there are drugs in the schools and it ain’t safe to walk around no more. They need to set up prison type schools for the inner city thugs and make them behave, not bring every one else down with them.Then you will see progress.

By Dick

April 5, 2007 8:37 AM | Link to this

I would love for the state of Georgia tax payers to pay for my children to go to a private school. Now what, wanting to mess up and destroy private school sector. Our elcted officials both state and federal need to realize one thing——not all students can /want to learn.

By well

April 5, 2007 9:16 AM | Link to this

A system isn’t “broken” because some children’s brains are “specially developed” and they cannot read. When is some of the responsibility going to be transferred to the children? Some kids are born smart. Others, not smart. Are these crusading parents going to hold their child’s hand into adulthood? Call up their boss and be sure they’re being treated right?

Everybody is so PC now it is nauseating. Ever wonder why PRIVATE schools are so much better? Because they are private. They can exclude the riff raff. If they start letting in every dumb kid who comes along, then PRIVATE schools won’t be so wonderful.

They won’t be able to teach the regular kids, for “making accomodations” for the “special” kids.

If vouchers are allowed for private schools, then they will start catering to the lowest common denominator.

What will the bright kids do then? Weep?

By Jim in Marietta

April 5, 2007 9:16 AM | Link to this

Let’s beat this dead horse again. The public school system is not about educating children not even the “normal” kids let alone those with “learning disabilities.” It’s about growth and self preservation of the public school system. If you want your kids to be educated then take matters into your own hands. Don’t expect anything for your tax dollars in the way of meaningful education. By the way my kids didn’t read until they were about 10 or 11 years old. They were read to. When they did want and need to read on their own they became proficient in about six months time. Making the reading process take years is a complete fabrication of the PS system. It’s about money. Billions are spent on the next big thing in reading programs. We know, WE KNOW that kid’s abilities to learn develop at different rates and we still stuff them in age based class rooms. And THEN we label them LD when they can’t perform to grade level. It’s more than pathetic. It’s child abuse plain and simple. By the way, you can substitute any subject for “reading process” above and end up with the same results.

By SET

April 5, 2007 9:20 AM | Link to this

I agree that the taxpayers should not be paying the massive amounts of money per child that special ed now commands. But that’s only my vote. To the extent that the Special Ed schools are in place I expect them to produce reasonable results for the money they do take from taxpayers.

But then that’s how I feel about the ‘mainstream schools”.

As usual my Rx is to decentralize and deregulate the schools and make it clear that discipline is a priority above all others. Perhaps we should eliminate the school board’s authority over policy and give that to an elected superintendant - the way we have an elected sheriff as an autocrat with a county board of supervisors who can set the budget at large byt not tell the sheriff how to spend the budget he receives. (Not directly, anyway.)

Afterwards if the kids can’t read or behave we go elect a new school super.

By Dick

April 5, 2007 9:23 AM | Link to this

My elected state official had better not vote in favor of tax payers sending kids to private school. I will take the time I spend n reading and campaign against him It is time to face it—-some kids are too lazy to put an effort forward in order to learn. How many hours per day do the kids in question play outside versus reading. Bet they can name all of the great basketball players.

By catlady

April 5, 2007 9:34 AM | Link to this

I feel sad to hear about children such as Sharon’s. I think special ed results are going to get a LOT worse as more inclusion is mandated but the state puts fewer and fewer special ed resources into it (the regular teacher handles it all). I also think the regular and gifted kids’ educational attainment will suffer markedly as a result of the inclusion model. The special ed lobby has been very powerful for very long, but unless the “regular” parents rise up and demand that THEIR children get a free and APPROPRIATE education, the schools will continue to go rapidly down the toilet. I see it as a plan, to make the public schools the schools of last resort for parents unable to pay for private education, or parents so uninvolved in their child’s life that they don’t care.

By thomas

April 5, 2007 9:37 AM | Link to this

When I read about the young man in Atlanta who had difficulties in reading, I was completely unmoved.

When I read Sharon Gruder’s story about the difficulties her daughter had in school, I am completely unmoved.

Why? * Because these stories are drudged up now, when a sickening politician (working in league with forces to destroy the public school system) brings up voucher legislation for special education students to go to private schools.*

Now let’s discuss reality: 1) Very FEW students will be accepted by private schools and those that are have minimal disabilities, such as LD or fake ones like ADHD. 2) Many SPED students come from lower income homes. These are the very groups of people who cannot get private schools to accept their “normal” child. 3) I am well aware that there are a few schools who cater to “special students”, BUT THEY ARE VERY FEW AND FAR BETWEEN. 4) If voucher legislation were to pass, what we would probably see is a few middle and upper middle parents get to move their kids to one of the existing schools that serve SPED students (like the Atlanta Speech School and The Howard School) on taxpayers dime. The rest of the SPED students (particularly the more severely disabled), would be locked out. 5) Some hustlers would then start a “school” for students with disablities or some of the lower end private schools might offer “SPED” in exchange for voucher money (charging higher tuition for these students, of course). Of course they would not teach these students any better than the public system, and IN FACT WORSE, SINCE PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE NOT BOUND TO MOST OF THE LAWS AND REGULATIONS THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS MUST FOLLOW. Think about the “tutoring” scandals we heard about (private tutoring services who got gobs of federal/state/county money to supposedly tutoring students from failing schools. In fact we later found out that many of these flyby night firms were shysters who did a worse job than the failing schools and in fact in some cases wasn’t tutoring at all, just getting paid).

Listen, we know that some kids are getting the education they deserve. WE KNOW THIS!! WE KNOW THIS!!! The problem I have is that the AJC (the rotten, stinking, establishment, propaganda rag it is) wants to dredge up SPED horror stories now, when it wants to see voucher legislation passed.

WHERE HAS THE AJC BEEN ALLLLLL THIS TIMMMMEEEE WHEN THOUSANDS OF SPED, REGULAR ED, ESOL, AND OTHER STUDENTS HAVE SHAFTED BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS OF GEORGIA??????

Regular readers of this blog know that teachers and other involved in the school system witness how some students are failed by the system on a daily basis. So called “regular” students who aren’t taught how to read. So called “regular” students who aren’t taught how to read. * *So called “regular” students who aren’t taught how to read. ** And this is in elementary school. And ain’t a d__n thing done about it. There is no private school for these children. Nothing is done. Nobody pays a price for this.

So when we even deal with so called regular children, children without “disabilties”, who weren’t behavior problems, didn’t have “ADHD” or make excuses (and blame others), who can’t read, then you can talk to me about SPED vouchers to private schools.

By mad mommy

April 5, 2007 9:41 AM | Link to this

My child’s first grade teacher started to give me articles on AD/HD. When I asked if she thought my child had it she said she was not allowed to say that to me but there might be a problem. I asked other teachers that knew my child and was told no. In second grade I was told no. In third grade the articles were again sent home. I asked for special ed testing because now I could see a writing problem. I was told then (five years ago) that the testing had to be done by the County school psychologist. I agreed and was told that there was only one for the county and we would have to wait. After a couple of monthes I asked if my child could be tested by a private psychologist and was told no it must be the county one. It took a year and a half to get the county to test my child. I had already had her diagnosed privately but the school would not accept the findings. They will only term it as a written expression problem and modify with an IEP. The time with waiting for the county would only allow the problem to get worse while waiting. The grades continue to go down and the child’s self esteem goes down right along with the grades. We actually had a teacher sarcastically (knowing what was trying to be done)ask my child in front of the class if my child could possibly go any slower. No amount of begging the school or the school board of education could get this done any earlier. Now the county accepts a private diagnosis but will still test themselves before acting on the diagnosis. We still have problems getting help from the schools. My child runs an A/B grade average in all other areas.

By Gail

April 5, 2007 9:45 AM | Link to this

This is why we needed IDEA in the first place. Why do people insist on believing that because kids are “not as smart” as other kids that they don’t deserve to be educated. I am appalled at the attitudes of some of the bloggers here today.

The fact of the matter is, there are some special ed students whose parents WILL have to “hold their child’s hand into adulthood” because they are disabled. Does that mean those children give up their right to make the most of their lives and to have the best life they can? I don’t think so.

And some of these children have normal or even higher intelligence and they are still not being educated by the public schools. I am lucky because my kid has had great teachers, but we (his parents) have worked many extra hours with him to keep him on grade level.

Maybe when you have walked a mile in my shoes, you will have a legitimate right to complain about special ed kids.

By Dick

April 5, 2007 9:45 AM | Link to this

Thomas, didn’t have cream with your coffee this morning?

By Dick

April 5, 2007 9:52 AM | Link to this

The article about the traffic jam at Six Flags is a prime example of what is wrong with our education system. How many of those children would get up at 5:00 AM to finish a book report, do a math problem, catch a bus for an educational field trip. Heck, how many of the parents would even attend a PTA meeting at 7:30 P.M. much less at 5:30 AM. Don’t have time for that, but find time for the children to play.It is all about priorities. Our govermental officials have taught parents and children, don’t worry, we will take care of you from the cradle to the grave. You don’t have to worry about a thing,other than remembering my name at election time. If you were to stop paying parents who have children labeled (many times labeled incorrectly) learning disabled, special ed you would be surprized how many can really learn. It is all about free $$$$$$$ from uncle sam. It is not teachers, nor educational sytems fault—it begins and ends at home

By danielle

April 5, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this

I am a special education teacher. I can say that most parents are concerned for their kids. But at home, they let their kids do what the children want. Watch t.v., play outside, etc.. no set bedtime, no set rules or responsibilities. And no help with homework. SpEd teachers have so much stress and responsibilites because of No Child Left Behind and the Liabilities in the school systems, it’s hard to explain unless you have been there. We need the parents help. Remember, we get the kids only 6 hours a day.

By ladilovely

April 5, 2007 10:08 AM | Link to this

First the vouchers are for private schools for special education. We are not talking about your precious high price schools that spit out druggies and bulimina adults. This blog is about education so educate yourself about these private schools before you open you a** (mouth)

By thomas

April 5, 2007 10:13 AM | Link to this

Dick, Dick, Dick, you are good!!! I haven’t even had my coffee yet. Two, I think that Six Flags debacle is hillarious!!!!! You are so right about that.

I am so, so angry because of the things I have seen in school over the last two years. I have seen children failed through no fault of their own. They were failed before they reached fourth grade (I teach fourth grade).

EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS READING BLOG ON A REGULAR BASIS-

http://d-edreckoning.blogspot.com/

Lots of important news and data on reading instruction.

By the way, I do not believe that mad mommy’s child is SPED. This is the problem with SPED nowadays. It is filled with students who are not truly disabled, but are not straight A, perfect students who want special accommodations to compensate for that.

For the record, true SPED is the: 1) Blind 2) Deaf 3) Crippled 4) Retarded

See how simple that is. No fancy labels, terms, or jargon.

Everybody else (with the exception of behavior disordered kids) can be dealt with in the regular classroom. Seriously. They may need additional support, but teachers have done that for years. Parents must do their part to help their children and stop making excuses and blaming others. Who in the h__l told you that your child had to be a straight A student? Just because you live in the suburbs and drive a Land Rover does not make you special.

I am going to get that cup of coffee now.

By nel

April 5, 2007 10:15 AM | Link to this

I have found that whenever a parent is told that their child has a particular “problem” they should listen, then do their own observations and research. With AD/ADHD (yes many of you think it is bogus but lets leave that opinion out for now) the presumption is that the child is not able to learn and if a child is very bright, then they don’t have a problem and is a “bad” child. Nothing is further than the truth, and for those of you who think that it bad parenting, you obviously don’t live with these children so it’s easy to throw stones. AD/ADHD children are either overly active (drumming fingers, fidgeting, gazing) or the quietst child in the classroom. Parents have to stop waiting for the system to tell them things and become proactive. You know your child, or should know your child better than the teachers, and that goes for the child who is truly spoiled and won’t listen to anyone, and the child who has a learning difference.

By TW

April 5, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this

Finch - “equal rights for everyone, priveledges for none.” At the root of this evil is the huge slice of the pie given the SPED kids a the cost of the rest. Sharon - please do keep your child out of public school, as the rest of the class is tired of being put on hold while the system bends over backwards for your little angel.

By greg

April 5, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this

I guess I should not be suprised at the ignorance of Ms Gudger. This is a pathetic article, if you call it that. She is simply mad because her special child couldn’t learn to read. This system isn’t broken, however, if you start funneling kids to the private schools, then it will surely be destroyed. And if you really think the private schools can do a better job, then perhaps you need a voucher for yourself. Ms Gudger’s article above is so vague and has so many baseless & non-specific accusations, that I cannot even begin to address them all. However, there are some children that will NEVER learn to read. And the public educators are held to virtually impossible standards when it comes to passing these kids. What is “normal intelligence” that you refer to above, and what does that have to do with the child learning to read? You don’t even mention what problems your kid had- were they behavioral, intellectual, ADD, etc? There are hundreds of reasons he/she would be in special ed, and regardless of “normal intelligence” (on what scale?!) they still can’t learn to read, despite the world’s best IEP, teacher, school, etc. For a self-proclaimed “advocate”, you’ve got a lot of learning to do yourself.

By formerspedtchr

April 5, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this

Mr. Rogers used to sing about everyone being special…but jeez…every kid w/ ADHD (yes it’s real) does not have to have an IEP for OHI eligibility! And don’t even get me started on EBD students who are usually made, not born. We bend over backwards to accommodate these kids, when they are so disruptive. The teachers cannot fix in >6 hours a day what years and years of often bad parenting has developed. Sorry…but it’s true. AND everyone is a sped teacher now, whether they signed up to be or not, and that is so truly frustrating!!!

By Gail

April 5, 2007 10:49 AM | Link to this

Thomas, Some of those parents are scared that their kids aren’t straight A students because of people like the ones on this blog that act like only the brightest students deserve an education. So if your choice is trying to fit the “straight A” mode or being labeled special ed, which would you pick?

By Tony

April 5, 2007 10:52 AM | Link to this

One of the things that disturbs me greatly about this blog is that so many participants take isolated incidents and extrapolate them to draw huge conclusions. In this case, the whole state of Georgia is failing to educate special education students. In every situation where I have worked, teachers pour their souls into working with children to teach them. In my current position, I see teachers bring about excellent results in teaching children. So this headline is utterly false!

One of the disturbing things I have seen in working with families to provide the best setting for a child is a refusal to acknowledge responsibilities for supporting the child - such as making sure homework is done and reading with the child every day. Another disturbing thing I have seen is that parents will make excuses for the child’s lack of work - the work is too hard, third graders shouldn’t be expected to write so much, or I wasn’t good in math and I do OK. These attitudes do more to hinder the child than anything else.

The proposal to fund private school vouchers for special education students is a very poor solution to the problem of getting a good education for all students. Besides, there is no empirical evidence supporting the idea that private schools do a better job than public schools when it comes to teaching children.

Finally, when communities do more to promote the importance of a good education for all students and hold students accountable for the standards we will see better results. Whether students are special education, regular education, or gifted, they should all be expected to perform at their very best. As long as we have parents and communities with mediocre expectations of their own children, we will continue to have mediocre results.

By teach overseas

April 5, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this

Let’s remember again that public education is entitled to each child and is mandated to be “free and appropriate”. It is NOT the best education that money can possibly buy.

If you don’t like what is being offered at the public school, you have the right to go private. But just like parents of regular ed kids, you have to pay for it.

Having been overseas for many years, I can tell you first hand that special education is done best in America. No, it’s not perfect, but it’s by far and away the best out there.

I’m a teacher and a parent and I can tell you that if I had a child with special needs, I would be in a good public school district offering extra support at home. As was said by an earlier post- the teacher only has them for a few hours a day- the parent MUST offer support at home. (many out there only want to complain about what is not being done at the school)

And thomas- the private school with the highest number of documented special needs children is The Dalton School in NYC, very pricey elite school. So yes, private schools DO accept SPED kids.

By Lisa B.

April 5, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this

I teach fourth grade. Ten years ago, the way reading was taught was much more effective than how it is taught today. We used to actually spend a lot of the school day reading. Kids read silently, I read to the class, we read class books as a whole group, and we read in small groups and pairs. My students sometimes read hundreds of books in a school year. They were required to read 30 minutes at home each night, and did it.

Now we talk about reading. We spend tons of time practicing CRCT test taking skills, reading short passages and answering multiple choice questions. We are told to drill, drill, drill. I fought “teaching to the test” for a long time, but finally caved in. I still get through a few class books each year now, but not nearly as many as I used to. The students rarely read at home anymore, and when I push it, parents complain that they don’t have time for 30 minutes of reading at night. I remember as a child, my parents reading to us every night. I learned as a child to read myself to sleep every night, and still do it.

Reading programs are even worse in the lower grades. Children hate to read. I never used to hear them say that. I love to read, and used to love teaching it. I was free to do whatever worked with my students. It is much harder now to fit everything in.

Politicians keep adding things to our school day, creating mandate after mandate. We literally race from one subject to the next with no breaks or recess. We take up precious time with ridiculous things like “Character Education,” and testing, testing, testing.

By Gail

April 5, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this

Tony — I agree with a lot of what you had to say. Parents do need to take more responsibility for their children’s education. And my kid is lucky because he has had some GREAT special ed teachers.

I think the system is the problem. Just like in regular ed, what is going on for special ed isn’t always working either. To Teach Overseas, if what we have is the best, that is a sad statement.

As a parent who has been in the trenches with special ed, let me tell you, it can be rough. We spend A LOT of time, energy and money making sure our kid’s needs are met. We need advocates like Sharon Gudger because of how hard it is, especially for the intimidated and uneducated parents. Oftentimes, they don’t get squat. And their children suffer for it.

By HS Teacher Too

April 5, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this

Sharon,

Policy debates aside, I am curious as to what services the public schools in question implemented to help teach your daughter to read. I don’t care about an IEP or accountability — I care about what they actually DID in an effort or efforts to help your daughter.

I have seen many students “coded,” often correctly, and they have piles of paperwork promising accomodations, but at the end of the day if the accomodations themselves are not meaningful all the promises and paperwork in the world won’t matter.

So, in that sense, I agree that the system is often failing the children who truly need it. I don’t support vouchers as much as I support rolling up our sleeves and figuring out how to help these kids.

Here is an example. It’s not the best example, but I am trying to keep it general. I have had students who were dyslexic, which naturally affected their math performance. In addition to extra time to allow them to check and double-check their work and work slowly enough to try to avoid mistakes caused by their dyslexia, the students needed some “treatment/therapy” (for lack of a better word) for their condition to help them in general. Those types of services weren’t provided or even addressed in an IEP. So, the “accomodations” the kids got were band-aids, not working toward any solution. How does this help?! THIS is the kind of thing we can work toward fixing within special education, rather than throwing more money at the problem by saying “here’s a voucher, go to a school that already does this.” Unless it’s something profound, why can’t the public schools do it themselves?!

By mad mommy

April 5, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this

Thomas, I do not live in surburbia nor do I drive a land rover and I could care less about my child getting A’s. My child was diagnosed with dysgraphia. When my child was first diagnosed even google could not find anything about it - much less the school system. The only place I could find out anything was on N.O.R.D.-National Organization of Rare Diseases. Now if you google it you can get 218,000 results. In this case we were told that out of every 10 signals the brain sends the hand to write only about two go through to the hand. So when you are standing there with your child helping them to write their spelling words five times each and spelling them out loud over and over and they are not writing but crying “I’m trying” it is not because they are lazy but because they can’t. Now if that isn’t special education what would you call it? My child can read extremely well, excells at math but cannot write. In eighth grade my child HAS to past a writing test to go on to ninth grade. Even with an IEP it still must be passed to move on. I work with my child for as long as needed everyday and have for years and will continue to do so as long as it takes. My whole point is the time it took to get my child tested by the school system and not allowing private testing results be accpeted.

By Lisa B.

April 5, 2007 11:34 AM | Link to this

When I first began teaching, inclusion meant the SPED children joined my class for PE, Music, Art, and occassional science activities. I don’t think it helps SPED kids to be stuck in a regular classroom all day long. The SPED teachers race from class to class to spend a little time with their students. We have terrific SPED teachers in my school, who work very hard. I think our current format of inclusion works against all parties. This isn’t the fault of the students, or teachers. I believe change will only come about if parents demand it.

By #1bravesfan

April 5, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this

My child has an IEP and has had one since Kindergarten. Through Kindergarten, 1st and part of 2nd he had additional help in the classroom. In 2nd he began leaving the classroom to go to a special class (Resource) because of his reading. He was and is an A/B student in everything else. I found that when he entered 4th and 5th grade, the Resource teacher, who was ready to retire, really didn’t push my son - she was a great person, but she had retirement on her mind. The goal, I thought, was to get SPED kids out of SPED back into a regular classroom. Well, it happened. With a new Resource teacher this year, who wasn’t ready to retire and actually gave a s—t, my son moved back to full inclusion, he’s in 5th grade. He has kept up with his work and is reading on grade level. He still needs extra help, in the form of private tutoring (which I pay for) and me, making sure he’s got all the materials he needs to complete homework assignments, etc. Back in the day (my day - I’m 40) the only kids that were in SPED were those with severe disabilities. All the other kids were in a regular classroom. Nobody seemed to have a problem with it then. And there sure wasn’t the money in the schools like there is now. WHERE IS THE $6000 PER KID ALOTTMENT GOING ANYWAY?!?

By luvs2teach

April 5, 2007 12:07 PM | Link to this

mad mommy - I assume you are talking about the 8th grade writing assessment? I teach 8th grade and that test DOES NOT need to be passed to be promoted to the 9th grade. If a child were in danger of retention, it would be considered, but it is not a determinant. The ELA portion of the CRCT doesn’t count towards retention either (only reading and math). Most high schools have a remedial reading and writing class that is offered to those who don’t pass the MGWA test.

By thomas

April 5, 2007 12:07 PM | Link to this

Students who are truly disabled have a permanent or long lasting condition that inhibits their ability to perform normal everyday activities (the blind or mentally retarded, for example). Disabled students do NEED accommodation.

Many students don’t suffered from dislexia, but distaughtia. Distaughtia is the result of being mistaught by a previous teacher. Distaughtia occurs in schools all over the country, in any grade level. Distaughtia is the most damaging in the earlier grades, when acquistion of basic skills is most crucial. Students who suffered from distaughtia need reteaching using the appropriate methods and pedagogy. Sadly, mostly students with distaughtia rarely get the treatment they require. Many fall through the cracks and some are inappropriately placed in SPED.

I know from personal experience of students who were perfectly normal (* and actually intelligent and perfectly capable of doing regular work*), but lacked discipline, self control, and study skills. They had parents who blamed the system and everybody else for any problems their children had (both academically and behaviorally). They fought and got their children ramrodded in SPED under the OHI category (ADHD). These children/parents gummed up the system with added paperwork (IEPs, etc.) and took up space in pullout resource classes. Teachers were assigned to work with these kids one-on-one (collaborative) in the regular classroom. Their work was modified (watered down). Standards, just for them, were lowered. Their grades padded. Why? Because their mothers wanted to blame the system, rather than take responsibility for their (and their children’s) actions.

You see ladies and gents, this is one of my soapbox issues. I could write a book. I could go on a crusade. These three issues: 1) The improper teaching of students in reading (and other areas) 2) The proliferation of deadbeats (nondisabled people) in SPED 3) The lack of true accountability of teachers/principals/school systems

I have so much evidence, both personal and from others, that demonstrates how the education system has failed our children. Until you are part of the system, from the inside, do you really see what goes on.

By Dick

April 5, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this

Go back to the education you found in the 60’s and 70’s. Reading, writing, and rithmatic. Most school systems today will buy programs from vendors who promise the world. Programs written by whom—-teachers and administrators who could not cut the mustard (couldn’t teach and administer), so they became experts and wrote the saving program for schools. I say do away with NCLB, allow teahcers and local school systrems 100% control of their system. What works in Atlanta Ga will not work in South Ga.

By Blind Homer

April 5, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this

The old school way, self-reliance, requires you to pay for your own private schooling. The new school way, socialist entitlement, should require a law mandating you stay in public school! They need the involvement of Sharon and Mad Mommy to help improve public school SPED for all the unfortunate children with uninvolved parents that otherwise would really be left behind.

By catlady

April 5, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this

number 1 Brave—you have a good question. Where does the money go? I have seen it go for parapros for individual students, special behavioral consultants at $400 and up per day, and special assistance, such as speech therapy, vocational therapy, and physical therapy multiple times per week. Some of this is undoubtably paid by funds other than local/state ones, such as those provided by the federal government for handicapped kids. I am not saying any of this is bad, but the money really adds up quickly.

And yet, it gets harder and harder to place a child in a special program because of what seem to be arbitrary and capricious rules (such as whose results are accepted for testing the kids). We know the well runs dry at some point (money is not unlimited) but kids really needing special ed help in the coming years are going to find the going very, very difficult. We have children in our school who are quite obviously intellectually disabled but “passed” the one IQ test given by a few points and so they cannot get help. They were teacher-identified as needing help years earlier. Now, these kids won’t make it much longer. There will be more and more behavior problems, thus disrupting everyone’s education, and then they will get in trouble with the law or pregnant and drop out, thus costing taxpayers more.

I feel bothered about the other kids who are not getting much of a share of the pie. In our county that is any kid passing the CRCT and any gifted kid. It just seems like we are shortchanging the future adults who will be the most productive. Now, I am not saying some of the below average achieving kids cannot be “saved”, but I would sure like to see how many are, given how much money is spent on remediation. How many move permanently out of the “needs improvement” level on the CRCT or any real, valid test? If you have a child who fails the CRCT and does very poorly on the ITBS, for example, for 5 years running, do you continue throwing massive amounts of money doing the same old things for that child? We have kids who are EIP forever, who get small group, specialized additional instruction forever, but show no substantive improvement. Is it a better use of our limited resources to help the child plan for a life of a skilled worker in a technical field, and use the money for helping those students who are making it to do better? How much mediocrity are we willing to continue to pay for? Or are we trying to drive the “haves” and the “have mores” out of public education so we can talk about the people who are left—“those people”?

I look around at other countries, and it seems like their educational systems are much more “you gotta prove you can do it” situations than ours. Their students and parents are much more focused on making the grade. Here, it seems like we make excuses and give folks a license to fail over and over again, all under the guise of “giving folks a second chance” (for the 30th time).

By linda

April 5, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this

Sharon, what did the private school do differently that helped your daughter learn to read? Did they use a different system - if so please advocate that to the public system so that all students can benefit. Was the environment somehow better? Maybe she was able to focus without behavioral distractions from other students? If so, that also needs to be available for public school students. Is it possible she was just more mature and her brain was finally ready to read? Not all kids are developmentally ready to read at age 6 and our public schools need to realize this also.

By Disgusted & Disenchanted

April 5, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this

Jimmy Willis & Well (early on in this blog) said it best! Someone later on made a comment about the system damaging a child’s “self-esteem” & there is the problem right in a nutshell. Because everyone is so concerned about kids’ “self-esteem”, we’re at the mercy of spoiled entitlement brats who know they can get away with murder because if a parent or teacher dares to discipline them, the brat can & WILL call HRS & have the aforementioned authority figure charged! Children do not deserve self-esteem! My generation grew up without it & we did just fine! If a child is retarded/slow/learning disabled but not severely enough that they can’t eventually get a simple menial job & at least be useful then yes, they should be in Sp. Ed but if they’re profoundly retarded & will only be a dredge on society, let their parents, who should have done the responsible thing & terminated the pregnancy, care for the useless little vegetable & not drain us taxpayers, thank you!

By Lulline

April 5, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this

To all you clueless jerks out there, Special Ed has nothing to do with race/economy. Children are born with Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and so on but that does not make them worthless. I’m sick and tired of the ones that run their mouth off when in fact your next child or relative may end up the same way. We have to make a better effort to educate these children better than what we are giving them because they can become functional adults. The Georgia school system is very bad and coming from NJ where taxes are high, you get a lot more services. All their 3 & 4yr olds are ecucated for free and before/after care is also free. They also have programs that promote special ed students to attend college for free as well. Remember, no-one has any control over the capablities we are given in life. Who in their right mind would say, I wish I was born Special Ed! IT IS AN AWFUL PLACE TO BE BUT IT IS NOT HOPELESS!!!! That said, i’ve got my gloves on, anyone dares to challenge me..

By HS Teacher Too

April 5, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this

Catlady —

I appreciate your comments and offer this example:

I taught at a school where one of our special needs students was profoundly disabled. He had a wheelchair that was more like an adult-sized infant carrier in the sense that he was almost lying down in it. He couldn’t hold his head up, or talk, or write, or in any common way function in a normal classroom. Yet, his parents took the school to court under the guise of “least restrictive environment,” because it was shown that he could listen and understand.

The end result was that this child had a $35,000/year special ed parapro who was paid to push him from class to class and take his notes for him. Read to him. Take him to the bathroom. Wipe his drool from his chin.

Teachers of this child had to create special tests so that he could answer them in multiple-choice format. I have no idea how he “worked out” his math.

As a human, I felt incredible sympathy for this child, for his family, and for the things he went through. Yet as a taxpayer, his presence in mainstreamed classes infuriated me. WHAT benefit was he receiving? Quite simply, he didn’t HAVE peers, no matter how cruel that may sound. There was no measurable benefit to putting him in these classes. But it cost outrageous amounts of money and time to give this child these “services,” and I question how they served ANYONE’s best interest.

So, the situation breaks down in two ways — students who need services that could be given and yet are not; and students who receive services that ought NOT be given and yet are. To my mind, this child’s least restrictive environment would have been a special school with personnel trained to handle this child, perhaps at a tuiton of $35,000 or more, but arguably a much better use of the money,for the child and for the taxpayers.

I don’t have the answer.

By linda

April 5, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this

Sharon, those were not rhetorical questions in my earlier post. I am a teacher and we can’t help other students if we don’t know the mystery formula that the private school used. I’m glad it worked out for your daughter, but frankly that is worthless information if you don’t give us some details we can put to use. If we are using systems that don’t work then administrators should be held accountable to explain why they chose less useful materials/methods over something that has been proven to work.

Bridget, please help us obtain this information from Sharon. We need details!

By teacher

April 5, 2007 1:08 PM | Link to this

I’d love to know what programs private schools are using! Most public school teachers want the best for your students. Most schools push us to teach them at a higher level than they currently are. They check their progress weekly. Sadly, it is often the teacher’s progress that they are checking as though we aren’t real teachers. You are also facing a huge lack of sped teachers because the students can be a challenge, the parents can be a challenge, and the administration is running us out of the field with NCLB restrictions. Then you have new teachers who haven’t had training going into the classrooms through various programs designed just to get a warm body in their. If sped teachers were treated better and respected more, we could really focus on each child. Rather than worrying constantly about the administration or quitting.

By Still Disgusted...

April 5, 2007 1:08 PM | Link to this

No, Lullene, no child of mine would be born that defective because I believe in regular sonograms & nipping incipient problems in the bud. I will concede that you are right if you can come up with one reason why a vegetable can be of any use to society.

By Brett "the hitman" Hart

April 5, 2007 1:15 PM | Link to this

When I was in the third grade I could not read worth a damn. The school did not fix it. Boo F-ing Hoo. My parents did it. They made their stubborn little retard of a son sit down and read out loud to them. Day after day after day I was forced to read. If the school is not teach your special little retard as well as you like do it yourself. If your not willing to take some personal responsablity for your children you should not have had them. Bad parents lead to bad students.

By Brett "the hitman" Hart

April 5, 2007 1:15 PM | Link to this

When I was in the third grade I could not read worth a damn. The school did not fix it. Boo F-ing Hoo. My parents did it. They made their stubborn little retard of a son sit down and read out loud to them. Day after day after day I was forced to read. If the school is not teaching your special little retard as well as you like do it yourself. If your not willing to take some personal responsablity for your children you should not have had them. Bad parents lead to bad students.

By Brett "the hitman" Hart

April 5, 2007 1:22 PM | Link to this

I do make allowaces for children that are actually screwed up you know they can not help it if they have downs, the pals, or if they are tards. They need to be with special education but the state and other tax payers should not have to foot the bill.

By Dick

April 5, 2007 1:26 PM | Link to this

Disguisted and Disenchanted You are so right as to self esteem. My wife teaches at the Middle school in our district. One of the stupidist things mandated by local school board is no grade below 60 as it will hurt childs self esteem. If a child made 10, give him a 60, if he made 59 he gets a 60.

By calculitis "victim"

April 5, 2007 1:28 PM | Link to this

From what I can tell, there isn’t a “cure” for dysgraphia. Children struggle with many things and they must do the best they can and learn to cope. While I can understand some accommodations due to basic human understanding, I just don’t see how the teacher or school system should be held responsible for the situation. Are you going to have her diagnosed with “calculitis” when she struggles with calculus? My point is not everyone should be a straight A student and these irresponsible demands result in nothing but a lowering of standards for everyone. As a result America can’t supply business with skilled employees and must import foreigners with those skills. Good for them but tragic for us! We need to keep standards high and realize it is okay that every subject doesn’t come easily for every child. I’m sure your child has many skills that do come easily.

By Disgusted & Disenchanted

April 5, 2007 1:32 PM | Link to this

Oh, Brett is absolutely right, even if he DID belabour the point a bit, bless his heart! Someone had posted that kids hate to read. Yes, that’s true in most cases. A lot also is about parenting. When I was in kindergarten, my mom started taking me to the library & introducing me to childrens’ books, immediately & permanently instilling in me a lifelong love of reading. That could be very well why I have a good job & have never been unemployed, at least part of the reason. She also supplemented my disco & rock music diet with an appreciation of classical music & ballet. See, people? There is a difference between an enabling parent & a truly CARING parent.

By newbie

April 5, 2007 1:45 PM | Link to this

HST2 - You got it righter than anybody: In addition to extra time to allow them to check and double-check their work…, the students needed some “treatment/therapy” (for lack of a better word) for their condition to help them in general. Those types of services weren’t provided or even addressed in an IEP. So, the “accomodations” the kids got were band-aids, not working toward any solution.

This is the basic problem that I have seen as the parent of an LD student (LD is real). I have educated myself about her problems, and I am pretty aware of what “treatment/therapy” would help. Yet, I could get the school to provide it - I know it is expensive, because we have paid for it. It has helped. She is in college and doing well (after having been diagnosed by a school psychologist as mildly mentally retarded, it turned out her IQ is 136…) What the parents of kids like ours need is an honest answer as to what is preventing the schools from offering the right kind of help, not band-aid “accomodations”.

By Dianne

April 5, 2007 1:55 PM | Link to this

Jimmie Willis, schools were “messed up” long before integration—you just did not hear about white school problems simply because problems were kept undercover or just not talked about because the students involved were the “higher class” students, who were the banker’s daughter or mayor’s son.

You can ask any law enforcement officials or anyone else, for that matter, and they will tell you drugs did not wait until integration to appear in schools—they had been there for some time.

You speak of “prison-type schools for inner city thugs”. Being just as sarcastic and blatant as you are, I think maybe we need to have “prison-type” schools for suburban thugs that will teach them not to drink and drive and how to drive so as not to kill or injure themselves and others.

Sarcasm aside, I think the bottom line in the quality of education here in Georgia, rests with two sources: parents who must get involved with the educational processes of the children, a state school superintendent and state school board who will rethink back to basics.

By newbie

April 5, 2007 2:00 PM | Link to this

Ooops - meant to say I could not get the school to provide it. And if anyone wants to know what worked for my kid (and my other one who dyslexia), I will be happy to share.

By erica

April 5, 2007 2:02 PM | Link to this

Disgusted… now you need to remember that a lot of cerebral palsy kids have that problem because of birth complications that could not have been detected in an ultrasound. How would you handle that little snag? Have the baby killed a birth? Other kids have accidents that leave them retarded. Have them killed too? Come on!

Now, that said, I agree that it is truly ridiculous for the drooling kid in the “wheelabout crib” to be mainstreamed. If the kid can just listen but can’t ever hold a job, or talk or have friends or do anything other than screech and drool, then a parent or some other caregiver can just read the darn textbooks to him or her and spare the poor kid the humiliation of having his “classmates” stare at him when they should be learning something.

Also, in order that “little drooler” can be wheeled around and have his chin cleaned every day so his parents can get on with their lives free of charge, some other kid with an IQ of 160 who could one day find the cure to the disorder plaguing “little drooler” despises school after 10 years of being completely ignored at best and taunted and punished at worst……That kid, the kid that can actually change the world, finally gives up and drops out of school. What has our nation lost as a result?

But at least the drooling kid is having a good time. Well, we assume he is because we can’t ask him.

The kids that need the vouchers in this environment are the gifted kids. The only way any school is going to give a rip about gifted kids is if they have the power to leave. Then the schools will panic because they will lose their “slave” tutors.

By More Disgusted Than Ever..

April 5, 2007 2:04 PM | Link to this

Wow, Dick, I knew things were bad, but what you posted was appalling! I can really feel for your wife; how frustrating for her & how hard it must be getting for her to do her job properly…what’s particularly scary is our world is well on its way to being run by functional illiterates! When people die due to botched surgeries performed by these illiterates, oh well! At least the slackers were whisked through medical school with no damage to their precious SELF ESTEEM…

By Disgusted & Disenchanted

April 5, 2007 2:14 PM | Link to this

Unfortunately,Erica, some of these conditions can’t be detected in utero & yes, accidents happen after birth. Hopefully, the parents are willing to care for/foot the bills for the creature. Or how about using the things for medical research so that they at least can serve a viable purpose & not just take up space & valuable resources??

By The most disgusted of all

April 5, 2007 2:22 PM | Link to this

Hey, as a parent of two public school gifted id’d kids who spend most of their day tutoring kids like Sharon’s (our guest blogger)… I’m all for giving the little darlings vouchers to get them the heck out of my kid’s class. My kids would like to spend a little time learning new things instead of teaching yours over and over again.

You know, I wouldn’t feel that way if teachers didn’t use and abuse the gifted and high achieving kids. They are constantly used at our school to teach the kids with learning problems. It’s a nice thing to do occasionally, but enough is enough.

If we could institute a little tracking then finally all children could be taught at their level by a teacher who knows how to deal with their learning style (or lack thereof).

I imagine that this will all come full circle in about 20-30 years, and my grandchildren will be properly tracked because the 90% of regular ed parents will finally rise up and say “ENOUGH!!!”

It’s really time for the tail to quit wagging the dog around here.

By luvs2teach

April 5, 2007 2:23 PM | Link to this

All these posts are just illustrating the depth, the frustrationsand the misunderstanding of the problem from all sides…

Like High School Teacher 2 - I don’t have an answer.

I have seen an extremely disruptive child (EBD)require a para (at a cost of about $18,000 - for this one child) to escort him from class to class because he couldn’t do that alone. While that may have been least restricitive for him, what about the children who were put at risk by his presence, if the para couldn’t handle him (not to mention the days the para was gone and had no sub). Who is advocating for those children?

I have seen another girl, epileptic as well as LD, inclusion classes, sit there and do nothing unless helped by the SPED teacher in my classroom - what about the other 7 SPED kids? They were on their own or had to wait for me. This same child BROKE HER ARM and we had no working number by which we could contact the parents. She regularly slept in class, telling us her parents let her stay up until all hours - SPED or bad parenting? Who’s advocating for this girl?

I have another child, been through the SST process TWICE! (a feat in and of itself) determined to be a “marginal learner” and yet parents don’t want her in special ed - the teachers have pushed for it, the parents said no. who is advocating for this child?

I had a child with Tourette’s, and yes, he blurted out all kinds of inappropriate things. While the kids did learn some “valuable lessons” in tolerance and diversity, we also spent a lot of time having class interupted.

By Erica

April 5, 2007 2:26 PM | Link to this

OMG… D&D…you are awful! I hope that something awful never happens to your children…However, if it does, at least we know that you will donate them for experimentation… Maybe the kid with the 160 IQ that I referred to can work on them, if he doesn’t drop out of school because he can’t take the boredom.

Watch out for lightning on the way home!

By HS Teacher Too

April 5, 2007 2:28 PM | Link to this

Wow. Spring break sure has brought a whole new dynamic to this blog, withe the absence of some regulars and the addition of many new folks!

May I humbly request that we avoid getting into personal insults, and stick to to the topic at hand?

Many thanks, everyone! There are lots of great comments on here today, but there’s some sifting through rubbish as well, and that’s a shame.

By Disgusted & Disenchanted

April 5, 2007 2:30 PM | Link to this

Oh!! And here’s another can of worms, along the same lines, though, that we’ve yet to open: What about American kids not being taught at their level because the classrooms are full of the verminous offspring of illegals, who refuse to learn our language & expose their aforementioned spawn to English?? (Dick, does your wife have to deal with that too?)Plus, American kids & the teachers are exposed to whatever diseases the illegals bring into the U.S, but we can save that for another blog!

By Disgusted & Disenchanted

April 5, 2007 2:34 PM | Link to this

In addition to being disgusted & disenchanted, I’m also sensible, practical & realistic enough to not be brainwashed by the current political correctness bandwagon trend. Absolutely, if the parents of a vegetable can do something to prevent it occurring to others, I say more power to them!

By Jeff

April 5, 2007 2:59 PM | Link to this

Dick:

Please say your wife works in Randolph County. I would HATE for that horse crap to be in place anywhere else… it was bad enough there!

Regarding functional illiterates: I have a coworker from India. We were talking yesterday, and she told me something very revealing:

Aliens on H1B visas MUST earn 60K or more per year or they will not be granted the visa. Go into your major companies and look how many internationals there are….

By Jim in Marietta

April 5, 2007 3:00 PM | Link to this

thomas, I’m with you. Kids with true disabilities need extra help. The ones that are mislabeled due to pushy parents wanting an IEP or the inept school system grow up believing something is wrong with them. The psychological damage compounds year after year, but I didn’t have to be inside the system to figure that out. I can see the result of it everyday. I see people that can’t be fixed because they were raised by a combination of moronic parents and the PS system.

You asked, “WHERE IS THE $6000 PER KID ALOTTMENT GOING ANYWAY?!?” The short answer is: It ain’t going to educating kids. Is there anybody on this board who truly believes it costs $6K per year or anything close to that to teach a kid the basic three Rs. It doesn’t take six years. It doesn’t take any special degrees. It doesn’t take an army of bureaucrats at each school. It’s pure fabrication. Like I said earlier the PS system is about self preservation and growth of the system not education.

By Dick

April 5, 2007 3:07 PM | Link to this

LIKE2TEACH. The students you referred to in your recent post are not being sent to school to learn but rather to use school system as baby sitting service. Parents feel while child is at school 7 hours a day, they don’t have to watch after them. Disgusted and Disenchanted-Yes wife has to put up with that as well as the great opening statement the school super made at first meeting of teachers each year. Super tells school facualty, staff and empployees “our goal this year is to do what ever we have to do to keep the parents happy”. Did anyone else here the chance of a successful school year hitting the back door? One thing teachers in our school system stay in trouble with is not contacting all parents/guardians of their students at least once per week. Try that with 133 sets of parents or guardians.

By Dick

April 5, 2007 3:09 PM | Link to this

Jeff; Sorry it is not Raldolph County, come further south.

By catlady

April 5, 2007 3:15 PM | Link to this

HS2—we have about a half dozen profoundly mentally handicapped children at our school. They are in the charge of 6 parapros (not paid well, but with benefits), a full time teacher, and every specialist known to humanity. Several of the children are sick a lot, but the parapros are there whether the children come or not. None of the children are ambulatory, none can feed themselves or are able to be toilet trained. Several cannot hold up their heads at all. They do some limited inclusion, and the best thing I can say is that our other children are desensitized to the fear folks often feel around profoundly handicapped kids. Also they don’t jump when someone starts screaming. But at what cost? I don’t know the answer. Oh, and the teacher has spent hundreds of hours documenting (with pictures) their progress.

The BD kids get no extra help. The LD/MID kids get some time (varies) with a special ed teacher during the day. The rest of the time they are included.

The flip side is the gifted kids, who get an hour and a half a week in a class of 10 or 12 with a special teacher.

The ESOL kids get 50 minutes with a special teacher, but that is about to change and they will be “served” in the regular classroom, where they will have to share the ESOL teacher with other students. Those who have exited ESOL fall under the regular program (no special programs) unless they fail the CRCT.

The kids who fail the CRCT get up to one and a half extra hours of instruction in reading and/or math a day on top of what they already get (with RF that is 1 hr 40 min to 2 hr 20 minutes a day). Plus after school tutoring free for 6 weeks before the CRCT (2 days a week) plus free summer school for a month.

Jimmy Joe, an average kid who has the misfortune of passing the CRCT, gets none of this unless he has a speech defect SO SEVERE he cannot be understood by anyone. Then he gets 20 minutes, usually twice a week.

So, how do we apportion the resources? I think it is obvious how we are apportioning them now, but does it make sense? What is the morally right thing to do?

By catlady

April 5, 2007 3:17 PM | Link to this

Jim in Marietta, does PS mean Play Station? Cause that is what I see a lot of!

By Disgusted & Disenchanted

April 5, 2007 3:21 PM | Link to this

Ah, Dick, it just gets worse & worse…As intelligent & educated as your wife undoubtably is, her skills are being wasted as nothing more than a glorified babysitter. And every afternoon, when the students get home from school, the TV & computer take over the role of “babysitter”. No wonder why the world is in the shape it is…

By teach overseas

April 5, 2007 3:26 PM | Link to this

Parents demand their severe and profoundly disabled children be placed in regular education classrooms because it gives them the illusion that their child is not that bad off. If they are in the same 3rd grade as other 3rd graders, then they can think their child is somewhat like them.

It’s not about the kids- it’s about pacifying and pandering to needy parents. Luvs2teach is telling it like it is- multiply her experience by all the teachers in the state and you get an idea of how ineffective parenting can destroy all the good that special education can do. The teachers know it’s crap but the administration will not stand up to the parents (most of whom are threatening lawsuits) and just let the parents get what they want.

By Jim in Marietta

April 5, 2007 3:29 PM | Link to this

catlady,

Ha! Good one! It could except Sony isn’t nearly as diabolical as the Public School system.

By catlady

April 5, 2007 3:29 PM | Link to this

D and D—at our school 40% of the “venemous offspring of illegals” who are themselves overwhelmingly American citizens, are on Honor Roll, and routinely win the monthly “Star Student” awards school-wide. This is disproportionate to their 16% enrollment. It is the Johnny Bubbas and the Suzy Sissys that give us a tough time. Ask around and see from teachers how it is at your school. At ours, the teachers PREFER the children of illegals (as long as the parents haven’t been here so long they have been corrupted by us Americans) because the kids have drive and determination to learn (reinforced at home on a daily basis).

By Yolanda

April 5, 2007 3:31 PM | Link to this

I am appalled at Jimmie’s comment. As a teacher in Dekalb County, I can say that our discipline system is worthless. However, to say that integration is the cause of the downfall of GA’s education system is just plain ignorant. Furthermore, it doesn’t even have anything to do with the issue in the article. You obviously just wanted to get your dislike for black people off your chest. It’s sad to see that in this day and age, people still think in these terms. Bottom line is, thugs come in EVERY color. There are rude, disrecptful, and challenged children in EVERY race so what’s your point? If you have such a problem with integration, go dig a hole and jump in it. I will gladly shovel the dirt to bury you so you can live in a world all by yourself. Now, to the issue at hand. I do agree that GA’s Special Ed program is failing our children ( meaning every race). There are children in the program that don’t belong and there are children that belong that are not being serviced. I could go on and on about the lack of support teacher’s receive across the board. This lack of support trickles down to the students and it’s unfair. Now, what to do about it? I don’t know. The powers that be, do not listen and most of them have NEVER taught in a classroom. Their kids go to private schools. I encourage PARENTS to start speaking up and expressing their dislike of the situation. That is the best way to get things changed.

By Dick

April 5, 2007 3:33 PM | Link to this

Main thing that needs to be done to start correction of the educational system is to listen to some of the teachers, NOT administrators. Talk to those on the front line. An administrator is going to report what the board WANTS to hear. A teacher will report what is happening. It is time for the good ole boy network to fall to wayside, time for elected officals to be told Political correctness no more, time for the teachers to be allowed to do what they do and that is teach, teach, teach.

By catlady

April 5, 2007 3:37 PM | Link to this

Jim in M—I really am having a bad reading day—I misread your post of Sony to read Sonny!

I do think it is true that lots of kids spend way to much time with Play Station and other drugs.

By Yolanda

April 5, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this

I agree with Dick, the admin are puppets for the Scool Board, Super, etc. Everyone wants their school to look good so they often don’t report situations or issues b/c it makes them look bad or will be recorded as a negative. Also, I have a Special Ed student in my class who is violent, sleeps, and has frequent outbursts. Despite all this, I am held accountable for his grade performance and CRCT scores. I understand that I signed up for this job and I try to do my best with helping this child but