Re: “Kids with special needs struggle for education — and families suffer,” June 10.
As a retired B.C. teacher, I believe there is a lot of unreality surrounding the issue of special-needs children and what schools and teachers can offer them.
For example, it is far easier to teach and control a group of 40 normal children than a class of five special-needs children. Why? Because each special-needs child requires one person to monitor and control their behaviour. A special-needs child in a normal classroom is disruptive because they cannot control their own behaviour or follow the direction of a teacher.
It is all very well for the Supreme Court of Canada to say all children have the right to acquire skills and knowledge needed to contribute to society, but not all children are capable of that. Special-needs children do not have the capacity to do that. All the schools can offer them is babysitting, and each one’s behaviour requires nearly the full attention of a teacher or aide. They are mentally incapable of acquiring those skills and knowledge.
They are disruptive for a normal classroom, which is unfair to the other students. The best that can be offered them is their own classroom, up to eight students if a special-needs teacher and aide are provided, to help them achieve and enjoy whatever skills they are capable of handling.
Until school districts are provided the funds for this, it is natural that their attendance at school would be sacrificed for the greater good.
William Tate
Victoria
