What is special in a special class for the educable mentally retatded?

Answer 1

A special education class provides specialized education based on the specific individual needs of the students. Each student in a special education class has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) which is developed by the teacher and other specialists along with the child's parents. Rather than rating a child's educational progress on his or her performance on the standard curriculum for his or her grade level, a special education student's curriculum is developed especially to address his or her individual needs. The IEP addresses areas other than just academics, so that a student's needs in behavior or social skills, fine motor skills (the small muscle skills used in writing or cutting, for example), speech and language, or gross motor (large muscles skills such as those used in walking or running) are all part of the curriculum.

So one big way in which special education classes are special is that each student's specific individual needs are considered and instruction is developed to work on those specific needs.

Another way that special education is special is that the teaching staff have specialized training to help them develop an effective program for children who are not able to learn well in the general education program. And there is generally lots of interaction with specialists in speech and language, adaptive physical education and physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc.

Special education classes usually have fewer students than general education classes do, and there are usually one or more full-time assistants in the class, so that there is much more attention and focus given to each student.

Answer 2

The kids and the dedicated teachers who love and care for them.