June 22, 2018, Memphis, TN, NBC5: Portion of $2M given to MNPS will pay for raises for paraprofessionals http://www.wmcactionnews5.com/story/38486786/2-million-given-to-mnps-will-pay-for-raises-for-paraprofessionals Metro Nashville Public Schools was given an additional $2 million this week in this year's budget, and News4 has learned a large portion of it will go toward raises for paraprofessionals. Previously, MNPS Director Dr. Shawn Joseph said he would need an additional $1.3 million in order to give those raises. The News4 I-Team has learned part of that money will also go toward AP testing in the district. Last year, the News4 I-Team uncovered a shortage of paraprofessionals in the classroom. Because of that, students with special needs have not all been getting the attention they need while at school and dozens of vacancies for paraprofessionals remain. Paraprofessionals focus on making sure children with special needs get the attention they need. “It's a thankless job but they are so wonderful at what they do,” said Carolyn Shofner who has a 17-year-old daughter with special needs at Hillsboro High School…. And now she hopes this raise, which will be given to all 900 paraprofessionals will not only keep them but also hire new ones. The I-Team has been telling you for months how the district has had dozens of openings. Metro Council Member Russ Pulley fought for the extra cash. …
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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.
Anne Dachel, Media editor, Age of Autism
http://www.ageofautism.com/media/
(John Dachel, Tech. assist.)
What will happen in another 4 years? How can we go on like this? This is a national (and international) problem of monumental proportions. We have an entire new class of children who cannot be accommodated by the system: many are manifestly neurologically impaired. Meanwhile, the government and the medical profession sleep on regardless.
John Stone,
UK media editor, Age of Autism
The generation of American children born after 1990 are arguably the sickest generation in the history of our country.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
It seemed to me that with rising autism prevalence, you’d also see rising autism costs to society, and it turns out, the costs are catastrophic.
They calculated that in 2015 autism cost the United States $268 billion and they projected that if autism continues at its current rate, we’re looking at one trillion dollars a year in autism costs by 2025, so within five years.
Toby Rogers, PhD, Political economist
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