Special Education in Public Schools

Special Education in Public Schools

Special education has come a long way since the concept came about in the 1700s. In that era people with disabilities were considered to be hopeless, an embarrassment to their families and were therefore hidden or abandoned. Today, in America, those who have special needs are increasingly gaining acceptance in society and their rights as individuals are being acknowledged, particularly in education. With the passing of important laws such as the Rehabilitation Act, Americans with Disabilities Act and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, IDEA, and special education of students with disabilities has become a basic civil right. According to the federal government, all children, including those with disabilities, have a right to a free appropriate public education, also known as FAPE. While the government has the right to enforce these civil rights, it is up to each individual state to develop their own special education programs and procedures.

education

American Education is in the Dumpster

Education

I went and to my high school Clyde C. Miller Career Academy, and one of the first things I noticed about the special education program there was that certain teachers that I knew when I was a student there were special education teachers. I went ahead and interviewed a teacher by the name of Ms. Tulley. I started off by asking her about why she chose this profession and her reply was "I actually was first a social worker but I decided to become a teacher. When I went and interviewed for schools they only had special education openings. I chose this school because they let me teach while I went to school to finish up my degree in special education." After this I asked her how long had she been teaching here and she said "about three years." I then asked her did she...