One year I had a special needs child on a second grade math level in a sixth grade "needy" class.  I was supposed to make sure all of the kids passed the state tests plus teach math individually to a child on a second grade level.  There were about thirty kids in the class and no aide.  The next year the child with special needs was placed in a class with other kids with similar needs.  Her mother saw me in the store and told me that her daughter was a lot happier.

Wait! Wait! Wait a freakin' minute!!!!  I'll answer your question of "what's wrong with these parents?"  They are agonzining over their children.  They can't help them and they know it.  And maybe we can't either.  In truth, special ed lobbyists and advocates piss me off too.  But you can't underestimate the frustration and pain of a parent who just want some semblance of normalcy for their babies.  Of course they take it out on you... and me.  We can't cure their children.  I don't like their attitude... but I understand it.  

Normally developing children deserve all the things that you say that they deserve but children with special educational needs also deserve theses things. The problem is not with you or the parents but with funding. Much research has shown that for an increasing number of children with special educational needs their interests are best served in mainstream education.

You said .............

If parents want special attention, they need to take their children to private schools that are designed to handle these kids

I can understand why a parent of a child with special needs would be angered by this kind of statement. Why should they go to a private school? Why did you not suggest a private school for your main stream children? Why should parents who have worked and paid their taxes all their life not receive the education for their children that they need?

I am a nurse/lecturer an I am currently studying for a masters degree in Autism/ Special Educational Needs and I am studying with many teachers and I do not believe any of them would make the comments that you are making. Do you really believe the things that you wrote or are you being provocative to start a discussion? For instance you said ...........

We don't have money for a lot of aides to follow students around to take care of them

'following students around' is not a way that I would describe the duties of a teachers aide.

The teachers aide is meant to engage with the student and help the student learn , as well as taking care of personal and safety needs.

I can understand your frustration as a teacher.  It must be really stressful to try and give everyone the attention they need.

My 8 yr old son has inattentive type adhd, a non-verbal learning disability and is gifted in the verbal arena.  I would LOVE to have him in a private school.  However, we are a one-income family (I gave up my career to be home so he could get all the extra support he needed from me) and therefore we simply cannot AFFORD a private school.

I try my best to work with his teacher and be a team.  We have open and frequent communication.  It helps Tony stay on-task, more organized and accountable.

I appreciate what his teacher is trying to do to make his learning experience positive.  

Also, depending on the type of disability(ies) you are dealing with, it is often detrimental to put certain children in a special ed class - this is exactly the case with my son.  Where does he belong??  In a gifted class??  In a special education class?  In the mainstream class??  It is not that cut and dry (although I wish it was).  

I feel for your frustration.  As a mom, I too have a lot of frustration, stress, and anxiety about my son.  I just want him to grow up feeling good about himself and focused on his successes.  I want him to feel successful, balanced, happy, and well-adjusted.  I think all parents want that for their kids.  

I feel your pain with the public blog. I advise not going there. I tried a local blog earlier in the year, and because every participant maintains anonymity, parents take the opportunity to bash teachers and the education system. You don't need that; it will just make you more frustrated. The biggest issue regarding the parents is that they do not understand what we face everyday, and they do not understand the educational process.

In my own opinion, I think special ed kids should be in a special ed class, no a regular class. Regardless of the research, I have experienced several negative results of having special ed kids in a regular classroom.

Special ed kids cannot keep the pace of the regular students, and you are right about time. Regular ed teachers do not have the time to spend with the special ed student to ensure their success in a regular ed situation. On top of that, I experience many special ed kids feeling inadequate in the presence of regular ed kids, and all this contributes to their getting further behind.

The root problem is that parents are passionate about wanting their children to be "normal" in every way possible, but fail to accept the fact that their kids are intellectually slower than other kids. It is a natural disposition and nothing can be done about it.

Politicians are no help either. They have no clue what-so-ever of the learning process, but they know very well how to win votes.

On a final note, I am appalled at the number of special ed students that receive services simply because they are lazy, don't care, and have never been taught discipline.

I'm sorry if my opinions rub anyone wrong. But, they are my <i>opinions</i> and that's it. Take them for what they are worth, or take them with a grain of salt... I don't care, but please respond professionally.