What is Special about Special Education?

What is special about special education,
when it causes regression,
segregation,
frustration,
and isolation?

What is special about special education
when the children who receive an individualized education plan
turns out to be no more than a scam?

What is special about special education
when the needs of the children are supposed to be individualized
when the reality is they’re trivialized?

What is special about special education
when the needs of the children are met
with a shrug,
then swept under the rug?

What is special about special education
when the needs of the children are not met
but
the availability of services for the school are set
for the sake of placement?

What is special about special education
when it doesn’t focus on children meeting their full potential?
This program then is detrimental.

What is special about special education
when the unique needs of the child and parents are ignored
for the sake of the school getting scored?

What is special about special education
when placement is determined first
and the unique needs of the child
becomes just a verse?

What is special about special education
when some of the very people we trust to educate our children
should be tried for treason.

What is special about special education
when instruction is experimental
instead of research based instruction
which is essential?

What is special about special education
when you have the IDEA 2004 and No Child Left Behind laws
and some of the people you trust to teach your child
are ignorant of the laws
all the while?
That’s a cause for pause.

What is special about special education
when the rights of the parents and child are violated
even when it’s mandated?

What is special about special education
when the needs of the child are not addressed?
This special education is one big mess!

What is special about special education
when you attend an IEP meeting
and
the placement has been decided
before the greeting?

What is special about special education
when a child is molded to fit a special placement
or
sent to a most restrictive environment
when it is an entitlement
to be in the least restrictive environment?

What is special about special education
when the child is made to feel inferior
among the rest,
for the sake of the school appearing to be superior,
amongst the best?

What is special about special education
when the child is hidden,
as if to say good ridden.
Oh my god
this should be forbidden!

What is special about special education
when this system
is supposed to educate and maximize potential
yet treat these kids like non essential.

What is special about special education
when the parent has to tell them
how and what to teach their child
and they ignore you all the while?

What is special about special education
when the children are turned into victims
by the ones who educate them
because of beaurocratic decisions?

What is special about special education
when the rights of parents and children are pushed aside,
IEP’s are vandalized,
children become victimized,
feeling ostracized,
in a place they can’t really socialize?

What is special about special education
when the teachers are paid
while the kids are enslaved
in this thing called
Special Education?

What is special about special education
when there is no dedication
from Administration
to enforce regulations
and endorse remediation
acceptable by legislation
to enhance education?