Jan 30, 2018, News.com (Australia): Education Minister Susan Close reveals $57m cost of program to help students with special needs http://www.news.com.au/national/south-australia/education-minister-susan-close-reveals-57m-cost-of-program-to-help-students-with-special-needs/news-story/af5eee6c49828b95ace5d5f3d89d0e1c SOUTH Australian public school students with special needs will get extra support through a package of measures Education Minister Susan Close has revealed will cost $57 million. PUBLIC school students with special needs will get extra support through a package of measures the State Government has revealed will cost $57 million. The initiatives will help 27,000 over the next five years. … It follows a survey taken last year to identify how many school students in South Australian schools met a new, broader definition of having a disability and what level of support they needed. The $57 million will be directed to students who have a physical or cognitive disability, social or emotional issues which adversely affect their learning, have experienced trauma at home and Aboriginal students who need extra support. … “The teachers who will work with these students — either one-on-one or in a group environment — will undergo specialist training,” she said. Dr Close said students would also benefit from already-announced initiatives, including: 154 extra special options placements in preschools and schools where there is the most need. 200 special options places in two new schools to be built in Adelaide’s north and south. 16 child wellbeing practitioners. 10 speech pathologists. Trauma training for teachers in every school.
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.