Public schools or Private schools
By mommaj
@mommaj (23112)
United States
February 15, 2009 1:05pm CST
Having a child with autism and also a "normal" child, I have to admit I hate to see there are no schools for handicapped children. All children go to a public school and if the child has developmental delays the school may be fortunate enough to have someone who takes the child out of regular class for half an hour or so and work one on one with that child. The child is treated like the other children so if he or she can't function on the same level the class is slowed to that child's level or the child is left behind. How can having children with special needs be put with children who don't be advantagous to anyone?
I can see where the children in the class won't learn as much as they could have had that child not been in the class. I think the parents of the disabled child should have the choice as to whether their child can and is capable of going to school.
If children with learning disabilities have to be put in public schools why can't their be a special classroom for them?
3 people like this
9 responses
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
5 Jan 16
I know this is an old post from 2009. But I find it interesting. There are schools for handicapped children, but they are mostly private and cost a small fortune. There are no public schools for handicapped children. That is sad. How it is now, in 2016? I don't know. My son was diagnosed with Tourette's years ago and went to regular schools. Some teachers had complained about him but we found out that he was learning faster than everyone else was. So, he was getting bored. He is doing great now, no more meds for years and the Tourettes, well, he seems to have outgrown it. That is great.
2 people like this
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
5 Jan 16
That is awesome your son out grew it. You have really dug some old posts up. 
My son goes to a public school. I love his teacher and helpers. He is in an enclosed classroom. He is still in elementary school so he goes to art,music, and library with regular students.
My son goes to a public school. I love his teacher and helpers. He is in an enclosed classroom. He is still in elementary school so he goes to art,music, and library with regular students.1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
6 Jan 16
@mommaj That's great. My son started off in catholic school, which wasn't my choice. Then wound up in public school. He is in high school and he gets real good grades. My daughter is also very smart. It's good you like the teacher your son has and that the teacher is a good one.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
18 Apr 16
There are. My son was special needs through his whole school career. He was placed in a LD or BD classroom depending on the teacher. He was switched every year, and only put in a regular classroom once and that was because the school district lost his paperwork. He was in third grade and the classroom he was in was called a 1,2,3 classroom because the kids could go where they best fit for different subjects. They didn't find my son's paperwork until April 1st that year. So they determined to keep him right where he was. By the way, he had a male teacher that year and it was his best year of school. He tended to manipulate the women teachers.
Don't they have those classrooms where you live? I would have thought they were everywhere. I hope your child is able to get the best education he can get.
1 person likes this
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
18 Apr 16
Thankfully Florida has separate classrooms for the kids who need it. I was in Al at the time this was written. Even if my son's papers got lost there would be no question where he needed to be. He is getting the best education possible at this time. Thanks for your response.
1 person likes this
@riah13224 (96)
• United States
22 Feb 09
im in middle school but im my school they have a progam called the rms cafe
it were the kids learn life skills
the kids "work" im there and teachers can go in and buy coffee
the kids serve it and talk with the teachers to learn socil skills
we also have therpist that work with them a couple times a week
also we have them go to gym with all the other kids in the school
and some other classes bassed on their skills
and have the kids deliver atendince to the teachers so
we have a pretty good progam for them i guess
they get a lot of socil exposure and learn skills that will help the in the long run
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
22 Feb 09
That sounds like a wonderful program. Are you in the program? Do you know if the other kids that are in the program are enjoying it? You can obviously communicate well for your age if you are on the computer. Good luck with your schooling.
PS I am a mother of an autistic child and I like all mothers are looking for what will give him the best future possible. That's why I ask so many questions of you, since you are still in school. When you get old sometimes you forget what happened when you were in school and over the years schooling changes.
@riah13224 (96)
• United States
22 Feb 09
no im not in the progam but many of the kids who are i try to talk to
one boy i know ryan is autistic
every morning i say hi to him and ask him how he doing then say see you latter ryan
after a wile when i came up to him and said hi then after he would say see you latter ryan
and a girl kaccie who has down syndrom a couple time i have taken her to class
she knows he way around just as well as i do though
next year though i am moveing to a diffrent school because im going to high school but it is a great progam and i am going to get involved in a progam in my second year of high school called the partnership program
its when a student who has good grades and great attendance takes one kid signed up for the program who has autism or down syndrome of anything like that snd you work on skills with them this is taking in place of a elective
if you have any more questions ill be glad to answer them
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
26 Feb 09
That's really wonderful of you. You sound like you would make a terrific teacher or nurse. You have to be a special person to go in those fields and excel at them. You seem to have the qualities. Thanks for enlightening us "old folks" about the programs that are offered in your school system.
@vandana7 (100282)
• India
13 Apr 16
I think there are some advantages too mommaj. Children tend to ape others, especially those closer to their age group. Somethings they will learn by aping others. If they have separate group, chances are they will not learn much in the age they can still learn something. As to development - even "normal" children differ in their development. How would you be able to explain children born on same day studying in same class, taught by same teachers and offered same facilities differ in their understanding of subject. Given such variations in development, it is wrong to judge a child based on his or her performance. Sometimes development comes later, sometimes it comes earlier. Sometimes those who develop earlier stagnate, whereas late bloomers outshine everybody.
1 person likes this
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
13 Apr 16
It is only beneficial if you have someone working with the child. Putting a child in a regular class that can't keep up is not going to help the child learn classwork. If a child goes into a special needs classroom and then gets pulled out for music, p.e., library, and art to be with the regular students then the child will learn from other kids.
1 person likes this
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
13 Apr 16
@vandana7 Depending on the need most of them are very loving. They are a lot of fun. This one little boy, had a feeding tube and couldn't hear. He would climb up in everyone's lap. He was so small I was afraid I would hurt him. So I would just pat him instead of holding him and the teachers' would pick him up off of me. He would literally climb up your body to be held. He was a doll. One of the other boys would pinch everyone. He never pinched me because all he wanted was attention so I would squeeze his arms like I squeeze my son. They were almost on the same level autistically.
1 person likes this
@Lolaze (5093)
• St. Louis, Missouri
20 May 16
Its possible to get a child put in a special education classroom or even a special private school but you have to fight for it. If this is something you want for your child, I'd recommend talking to a special education advocate. I used to teach special education and taught in these special classes as well as at a separate private school for kids with autism.
1 person likes this
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
20 May 16
Actually, depending on the child sometimes it is quite easy unfortunately. LOL This is a really old post. My son is 11 now and he has been in a separate classroom his whole school career. Everyone has been really great to him. Thanks for your response. Thanks for working in special education. It takes special people to be able to handle that. By that, I mean all the little things things they do, the help they need, and watching them suffer in pain or hurting themselves. I could never be a special ed teacher. I am happy to say my son doesn't have the pains or hurting himself like the other kids have.
@Foxxee (3651)
• United States
18 Feb 09
I don't know where you live, but in the states, public schools do have a special needs classroom & they not only have just one classroom, but several for different age groups.
As for a child with Autism... they actually are making improvments & are making schools just for the Autistic... We have one in Oklahoma here... it's called EasterSeals..
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
18 Feb 09
I live in the East and we have the Easter seals here too until the child goes to Kindergarten or First grade. My cousin's little boy goes to Public School and he gets taken out of the regular classroom periodically during the day to learn. I don't think that is right nor efficient. Think of how much your little boy hates change and think that if they put him in the special class to begin with and kept him there all day he wouldn't change classes and he wouldn't get as upset.
@stacyv81 (5903)
• United States
25 Feb 09
yea I know here we have special education classes in the public schools, for children with disabilites and/or that need extra attention or help.
No I dont think its fair socially, emotionally, or educationally to put them in the same class with others if they need extra attention, especially with the number of students per classroom rising.
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
26 Feb 09
That is my biggest complaint too. I am looking at both sides of the coin because I have one child that is fine and the other autistic. It's very stressful on all of us especially the older child when the young one is upset. He at least doesn't hurt himself the way some of the other children do in his class so I wonder how the parents are supposed to handle that. I noticed one child in his class was getting attention and he started hitting himself in the head. I don't know if he was getting frustrated or if he just didn't know how to act. My heart really goes out to those kids. The point is though that those kids really do need to be treated differently than a "non-issue" child in order for them to get the most out of their education.
@jebsmommy (29)
• United States
21 Mar 09
I live in Pa. My son has Autism, high functioning & is 7 years old (2nd grade). He is in a regular classroom & I had to fight to get him there. He is advanced in reading, math & science. Our school had NO learning support classes. They built a new school last year, we now have 4 learning support teachers & 1 life skills teacher. You have to know your rights as a parent in you state & fight for. You also have to know your chil & if you can function in a regular classroom.
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
21 Mar 09
I believe as a parent we have to look out for the best interest of our children. Your child sounds like he is able to function in a classroom. My child is getting ready to turn 4 and doesn't understand going to the bathroom. He is also at a 15 month level. I think he will be high functioning and I can see his progress.
I am glad your school offers that opportunity. I don't know yet if I will put my son in a public school for kindergarten. It depends on what level he is at, at that time.
