what makes special education special?

Answer 1

It teaches to the end (high and low) standard deviations of intelligence, ability and readiness. Falling outside the norm is pretty special.

Answer 2

The special thing is the extreme patience required of the teachers, and the "special needs" of the students. However, the term "special needs" was coined after the term "special education." When I was a child, the term used for the students was retarded. Then that got to be used as an insulting term among normal people, and so naturally parents of retarded children began looking around for a more polite term for their children.

What they had not grasped was that "retarded" is a passive term. It means, basically HELD back, rather than slow or backward.

It is special also in the sense of not being ordinary. Most of the kids get the same old same old, year after year, being treated like a bunch of cattle in large classrooms with teachers who are pretty burned out by the middle of the third week. The special ed kids get teachers who generally teach a much smaller class, tend to be more dedicated since they had to have special training themselves, often have teaching assistants even when the regular classes do not, and lots of special teaching aids.

At least that's the way it was when I was young, and the few times I have visited schools since. I understand from my 12-year-old friend that her public school is significantly better than that. However, I also read that the school district she's in (University City, a section/suburb of St. Louis) is famous for having exceptionally good schools.

Answer 3

The precious "special" children who need you to help them find fulfillment in this world are who make special education tremendously special.

Answer 4

It modifies instructional methods to meet individual needs.