By Anne Dachel
Disabled children are changing the face of education in the 21st century, and the evidence is overwhelming. And yes, the impact of the ever-increasing autism rate is a big part of the story, but it’s not just about autism. Intellectually, behaviorally and emotionally students today are noticeably different from past generations.
Below is just a fraction of recent coverage in the mainstream press that clearly documents the decline of children everywhere. Incredibly these are increases without explanation. Exploding numbers and soaring costs are accepted without question by today’s reporters and educators. The only solutions talked about involve more money for more programs, schools and therapists as if these things can continue indefinitely.
What is never discussed is the future when this disabled, costly population does to adult social services what they’re doing to schools worldwide.
?These stunning reports should have everyone’s attention.
RESTRAINT/SECLUSION
Rockford (IL) Register Star: Schools aren’t supposed to forcibly restrain children as punishment. In Illinois, it happened repeatedly ?
An analysis of more than 15,000 physical restraints in 100 Illinois school districts from August 2017 to early December 2018 found that about a quarter of the interventions began without any documented safety reason. …
Records show that most of the children restrained had behavioral or intellectual disabilities….
…Together, districts used these restraints nearly 1,800 times in the 15-month period examined.
Thirteen-hundred of those floor restraints were in the prone position, and three districts accounted for the majority of those incidents.
?(UK) Motherwell Times: Inspectorate’s concerns over special schools in Motherwell, Uddingston and Coatbridge??
Three North Lanarkshire special schools have received harsh assessments from inspectors….
Clydeview School,?hit the headlines last March as North Lanarkshire Council called in police to investigate allegations of use of improper restraint involving an autistic child. This resulted in four members of staff being suspended….
In the report from this further inspection they wrote: “A?number of children display challenging behaviour as a result of their?social and emotional needs. This leads to a significant number of incidents of conflict and disruption to learning on a regular basis. Staff’s approaches to promoting positive behaviour are not having an impact on improving relationships and behaviour across the school.”
SCHOOL VIOLENCE
Lakeland (FL) Ledger: Student assaults on Polk County school officials skyrocket
Between mid-August and early December this school year, there have been 26 incidents….
The numbers also show a trend: more than 60 percent of those assaults each year are routinely committed by special education students — those students who have learning disabilities or behavioral issues and are receiving special accommodations to help them….
Judd said there has been a breakdown in society and some parents are not holding their children accountable for their bad behavior.
Deputy Superintendent John Hill, who has worked in education for 25 years, said a number of factors have developed over the last few decades that has adversely impacted children.
“I often tell people that children have not changed; what has changed is our society, environment and popular culture,”…
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SPECIAL EDUCATION INCREASES
(UK) Newcastle upon Tyne Chronicle: New ?6.3m [$8M US] Sunderland specialist autism school vows to provide 'the very best education'
A new multi-million pound school is set to provide specialist education and support for children with autism in Sunderland.