April 14, 2018, West Australian: Meet Rigby the furry teacher assistant helping Mindarie Primary School kids chill out https://thewest.com.au/news/education/meet-rigby-the-furry-teacher-assistant-helping-mindarie-primary-school-kids-chill-out-ng-b88803309z Rigby the border collie is one of a growing band of four-legged teaching assistants working in WA schools. Job-sharing with Maxi the beagle at Mindarie Primary School, she reassures anxious students, listens to reluctant readers and helps shy pupils build social skills. Mindarie principal Barbara Bromley said she had researched the benefits of therapy dogs after noticing an increase in the number of primary school children dealing with anxiety. “They’re really good for calming kids down,” she said…
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.