Jan 27, 2018, Fairmont (MN) Sentinel: Students get new best friend http://www.fairmontsentinel.com/news/local-news/2018/01/27/students-get-new-best-friend/ Fairmont Christian School will have a regular visitor to help its young students with everything from verbal and reading skills, to offering someone to open up to. No, it won’t be a special educator or school psychologist, but a small hairy individual with four feet. Fairmont Christian School is located at Bethel Evangelical Free Church, 1125 S. State St. The school, along with Principal Kimberly Fast, is excited to announce the introduction of companion dog Birdie. … … “So we try to give them as many different tools, like how to calm themselves and take a deep breath and think.” In a letter to parents, Fast noted that Birdie will be able to help children with autism or special learning disabilities. “While dogs have calming effects and reduced stress levels in most students, children with disabilities can present a unique challenge,” the letter stated. “Because of the wide range of intensity, behaviors can be unpredictable. Currently, within our preschool and school family, we have several children who are on the autism spectrum. …

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.