Jan 15, 2018, Aberdeen (WA) Daily World: Aberdeen schools prepare to upgrade special education offerings https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/aberdeen-schools-prepare-to-upgrade-special-education-offerings/ The Aberdeen School District is preparing to revamp its special education programs in the upcoming months, and has compiled an extensive report outlining what changes need to be made to better suit the needs of students with disabilities. Since August, a six-person special education task force comprised of Aberdeen principals, teachers and administrators has been analyzing each school’s approach to special education resources, resulting in a report that breaks needed changes down into 12 pillars, or areas, such as communication, personnel and transitions. … According to Robert Gray Elementary Principal Richard Bates, who is on the task force, the interviews found that many believe the district lacks a cohesive system that allows special education and general teachers to know how to handle certain situations. … Currently, about 580 of the district’s 3,500 students have some type of special need, and most are not separated into distinct programs. Each building has a special needs resource room equipped with staff, which students can go to if they’re ever having problems.
Childhood Lost
Children today are noticeably different from previous generations, and the proof is in the news coverage we see every day. This site shows you what’s happening in schools around the world. Children are increasingly disabled and chronically ill, and the education system has to accommodate them. Things we've long associated with autism, like sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety and lack of social skills, are now problems affecting mainstream students. Blame is predictably placed on bad parenting (otherwise known as trauma from home).
Addressing mental health needs is as important as academics for modern educators. This is an unrecognized disaster. The stories here are about children who can’t learn or behave like children have always been expected to. What childhood has become is a chilling portent for the future of mankind.