Not so long ago I visited a secondary school not far from Dublin. The reason for my visit was to observe a boy with a Moderate General Learning Disability and talk with his teachers. This boy has been mainstreamed throughout his life. Not because of the good will of the DES or any particular school, but because his mother and father insisted. Now he is in 1st year and of course having difficulty keeping up with the curriculum.

His teachers are worried they aren’ t doing a good job.

In fact they are doing an excellent job. It isn’t easy but they are trying hard. The school principal is an excellent educator and dedicated to doing the best that can be done for this boy.

I could write a lot more about this, and maybe I will soon enough. For now let me just say that it can be done. It isn’t easy, it is full of challenges, but it can be done.

My question is this: why is it that we so often just assume that students like this boy must be enrolled in a special educaiton school? Also, please tell me, and be specific, “What is special about special education?”