Special education isn't receiving special attention

In fact, it's receiving very little attention for such an important and necessary variable in the education system. Especially in San Diego.

More specifically, the training for special education aides is not given enough attention. The Voice of San Diego has an article about the growing need for special education and lack of training for special education aides.

This reminds me of a very good friend of mine, Phoebe. She's from a completely different generation, much further on in her life, and she is one of the smartest people I know. She got her degree in art and later decided she wanted to work with children, specifically those with "special needs" -- I believe she works with both hearing- and sight-impaired preschoolers. She loves it and recommends it to anyone.

I, too, have worked with special needs children, though I did not receive any special training or even any warning, for that matter. I worked at a middle school last summer as a "youth development specialist," a fancy title for a 6-to-6 aide. However, a large portion of the children had some kind of mental or learning disability, and I found working with them very enjoyable.

How much extra training do you think is really necessary? Are today's aides competent? Should these special children be separated from "normal" kids?

Kids Together Inc. is a great resource for parents and teachers of children with disabilities and the issues revolving around inclusion, or mixing them into "normal" classes