April 24, 2018, Grand Forks (ND) Herald: Special elementary school planned for students with severe behavioral problems would be first of its kind in ND https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/education/4436188-special-elementary-school-planned-students-severe-behavioral-problems-would The Fargo and West Fargo public school districts plan to join forces to create a small unified school specially designed to help kindergarten and elementary-age students with severe behavioral problems…. School districts around the country are seeing an increase in student behavioral problems that often disrupt classrooms and sometimes lead to staff injuries. …. Beth Slette, a West Fargo schools assistant superintendent who in July will become the next superintendent, said the area has seen an increase in the frequency and severity of students with significant behavioral and mental health needs, and it's starting at younger and younger ages. The behavioral issues can tax district resources. While some schools have containment rooms in which students can calm down during an episode, those rooms are often full and some students require two full-time adults to help them each day…. While the students who may qualify for the separate school do not have cognitive disabilities, they are identified as emotionally disturbed or on the Autism Spectrum Disorder due to their behavior. … The rise of behavioral issues has grown beyond the disruption of classes. West Fargo has seen an increase in staff injuries due to student behavior. Reports of staff injuries nearly doubled between December 2015, when 68 reports were filed, and December 2017, when 125 reports were filed. …. "We certainly know there are needs in other districts as well," Agre 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.