We wouldn't have special ed teachers or schools yet if it weren't for reformers like Dorothea Dix, who fought to improve conditions for the mentally ill and people with learning disabilities, and Horace Mann, who promoted American education. Although Public Law 94- 142, which established special ed in public schools, wasn't passed until 1975, the efforts of reformers made special education possible today.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Solving the special ed teacher shortage - Kate Fehan 8th Period
A special ed teacher shortage has forced many schools in the US choose quantity over quality when hiring. These less qualified teachers are often not ready for the challenge of teaching special ed and are more likely to quit within the first two years. The Lee Pesky Learning Center in Idaho is pioneering what could be a long term solution to that problem. The nonprofit is working with Boise State University to train teachers and help more kids with learning disabilities. Interested college graduates spend a year working at the Center while taking classes to get a master's in teaching. The whole program is paid for by a scholarship from Alan and Wendy Pesky. This won't fix the shortage immediately, but it will help find better long-term teachers.
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Brenna Hale(6th period)
ReplyDeleteI didn't even know this was an issue, thanks for writing about. The new concept for long-term teachers is genius, and I wonder why it wasn't considered earlier.
The issue of finding correct specialists to provide for special-needs students is a very important one. And the importance of long-term teachers is definitely prevalent since students that have special-needs can learn better in familiar environments.
ReplyDeleteJasmine Rodriguez Period 4