What do you think of when you hear "special education"?

Question

It seems the 'average' person automatically thinks of seperate classrooms for profoundly mentally retarded students.
There is a huge sterotype of thinking and a great deal of stigma attached to the phrase.
Unless you have some sort of personal experience in the 'system', most people don'trealize what a wide range "special education" covers.
What do you think?

Answer 1

I think of someone who need extra help.

Answer 2

I usually think of kids that are a bit slow in one area or another and need extra help. I even knew of one in special ed that went on to college.

I know this isn't the norm. My daughter was in special ed too and..I don't want to relive THAT experience again. AND she is NOT MR. Her Iq is actaully in the high 80's. I think the term is cognitively imparied. So she's stuck in the middle.
Honesltly, though, there are times I do wish she were one or the other. Either a great student with plans to go to college and make something of herslef OR MR. Because being stuck in the middle makes it hard to find help for her. We fianlly found help just a matter of weeks ago and she says she finally feels like she belongs somewhere. But she is 23 now and I've been trying to get her help since 2nd grade!

Here in Maine the schools tried to change the name of special ed (don't remember what to) so the collleges would look at kids and not the 'special ed' desigantion. They think the colleges won't catch on. (rolling eyes now)
The schools been brainstorming again!

I'm wondering if there is a way to have these kids go to different classrooms without calling it 'specail ed' or "the resource room' or whatever. If we could do that then no one would ever have to know - but sooner or later some smart aleck kid would figure it out.. and we'd be back to sqare 1

Answer 3

As a long time advocate for families, often those with children identified as 'special ed', I may not be the best person to answer this question.
I think your assesment of the 'stereotype' is real. I can't tell you how many times parents have called me for help because the school district has recommended that their child be identified and their instant response is "My kid is not a sped!!!" (or whatever)
It takes all sorts of educating with them for themto understand that identification is not the same as a label or placement and that it actually affords them and their child protections that they otherwise don't have.
When I hear "special education", I think of any changes made to a regular education experience, including curriculm, to meet the needs of an individual child.
I know that isn't the norm.
An earlier poster used the phrase "the short bus". My own kids used the term "sped"....I came close to killing them, often...Even my son who was identified didn't see it as applying to him. He never speant a single day in a restricted classroom, although he had many accomodations in regular ed. And he just didn't get it. Except, of course, when he could use it to get himself out of some sanction or another....
I'm rambling....
But we have a long, long way to go toward changing perceptions...
Changing language and true inclusion is just part of the deal....

Answer 4

Everyone has special needs. Special ed. does not deserve its stigma. For instance, many famous people are dyslexic, including Cher, Tom Cruise, and I suspect George Bush. But they compensate and learn coping strategies and can still be quite successful.

I'm a high school teacher and see all kinds of kids being successful. The key is finding the strategies that work for them.

If you read IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, you will find that even giftedness is a form of special needs. That's why schools are going to something called ILPs for every student. That's the Individual Learning Plan.

Answer 5

when i was and nieve I thought the same thing, but when I found out my 4 1/2 year old step-son was developing slower then children his age, and he had to be put in special education since he was 3, i changed my views. I did way before then, but I didn't want to believe there was anything wrong with him, until I basically got punched in the face by his doctor telling me to get him in all sort of classes and what not at 2 because he couldn't talk. He is a very smart child he just needs a little extra attention and help with somethings.

Answer 6

I have an ex-sister in-law (I told her not to marry my brother, but she didn't listen, she was sure she could change him!)...

Anyway...you characterized what I usually think of in your first remark, BUT I do know it makes me think of handicapped children who cannot be put into regular classes for various reason, (not just profound mental retardation), there could also be dyslexic children in the class. There could also be children who are not able to be put into the mainstream school system. I think of the "short bus" and things like Special Olympics too. I know there are also kids with ADD and other dysfunctions as well.

I suppose I have (even with my limited knowledge of my sister in law and her work with special ed children) taken to the general stereotype of children who are not able to be put into the "normal" class rooms because they would not "fit in". Her class was really a mess, there were children there that had all kinds of disabilities, and some that seemed to not be disabled at all, but could not be "main-streamed" into regular classes for whatever reasons. (?) I think we need more teachers who are willing to work with some of these students and focus on why they are in special ed, not just herd them around like follow the leader, put them all in one crowded classroom, and try to give them "busy work". I know this will cost money, but some children who are special ed could be helped by some individual help. Most people who are dyslexic can be helped, they are usually of average or better than average intelligence too!

Now, I am probably not the best one to answer this question, I do not have children, but I could see where some special ed children could be tutored and eventually become regular students one day. Some could get more help than they do, but these kinds of issues also need the efforts of parents or extra tutors (maybe supplemental education added to what the public schools may have to offer?) Just an opinion...

This is a very good and worthy question, I just wish I had a much better answer.

Answer 7

There's going to be a stigma no matter what it's called. Perhaps a very vague term could help, such as Individualized Education. They already have an Individualized Education Plan (I.E.P.) for disabled students. The term seems non-threatening enough. A change in terminology could help a little, though.

Answer 8

When I hear "Special Education" I think alternative learning methods.

My younger brother is deaf and slightly autistic but he is a brilliant (think "Rainman") and he was mainstreamed into a public elementary school for his younger years. He participated in Special Ed not because he was retarded, but because he needed to learn differently. Now he is enrolled in the Hartford School for the Deaf and is an excellent student still.

People who assume "Special Education" is for profoundly retarded individuals simply do not know better and it's up to people like us to educate them on the topic! Great question, thanks for putting it out there.

Answer 9

I think of spcial needs children...probably with a lower IQ or with learning disabilities. Most schools have integrated the special educaiton classes into mainstream, but I know this because of my experiences.

When I was in elementary schools, the special needs kids were separated - in highschool the actually had a different building. I gues most people will use their own past experiences on this subject and not realize how things have changed.

Answer 10

When I hear special education I think of gifted children, LD, BD, ESL etc. These are all special education children and special education does not automatically mean retarded ( which by the way I really hate that word).

Answer 11

I work with special needs students and I know that Special education is greatly misunderstood. Many of these students function in regular classrooms with very little help or no help at all. I find that when I say I work with special needs students they think Downs Syndrome not behavioural issues. Thanks for bringing this subject up and calling attention to a greatly misunderstood field!