Feb 27, 2019, Lewiston (ME) Sun Journal: School principals present budget requests to RSU 56 board https://www.sunjournal.com/2019/02/27/school-principals-present-budget-requests-to-rsu-56-board/ DIXFIELD — School principals pitched their budget requests to Regional School Unit 56 directors Tuesday night, including a junior varsity sports program, a part-time athletic director/assistant principal and more special education staff. Jason Long advocated for funding junior varsity sports at T W Kelly Dirigo Middle School, where he is principal, and Dirigo High School. The programs were cut from this year’s budget.…. “As much as I’m seeing behavioral issues, emotional needs of our students are not getting the full attention that they deserve,” she said. The assistant principal would be able to help meet those needs, she said. Another staffing request for 2019-20 was made by Heidi Connelly, special education director for the district, which serves Canton, Carthage, Dixfield and Peru. She said Dirigo Elementary School needs an educational technician to help support students in the pre-kindergarten special education program, and the high school needs a special education teacher and an educational technician. “There is clearly a need for an additional teacher at the high school,” Connelly said, in addition to the two special education teachers there. About 10 students, who the district was not expecting this year, have enrolled at the high school and need special education services, she said, making it the highest caseload of any school in the district….

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.
Loss of Brain Trust features over 9,000 news stories published worldwide since January, 2017
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