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What Stossel neglected to even mention was the high cost of educating the special education students. Specialists for autism run in the hundreds of thousands per state. 1-on-1 assistants for the severely disabled are expensive. Residential and day center placements for the emotionally disturbed run into the millions per states every year.

I don't buy it. Until she retired recently, my mother taught these special ed students for many years. I assure you, she wasn't getting paid anywhere near the kind of money you claim people like her cost. In fact, because of union rules, she wasn't allowed to be paid more than any other teacher with the same seniorty.

The special education teachers don't get paid a dime more. But factor in assistants, occupational therapists, speech therapists, physical therapists, assistive technology specialists, assistive technology equipment, hearing specialists, special transportation, nurses, FM systems for the deaf and hearing, counselors, and psychologists. I'm sure I've only scratched the surface of what is needed in a typical system. And all of these people listed are those in the school system being paid market rates. (If a teacher is not available for hire, the counties must go to a placement agency and these people command hourly rates that are mind-boggling.) The TRULY big money comes in the residential and day placements. To avoid sending kids to a placement center, schools load up on the specialists to cut costs.

The money doesn't go to the Special Ed teachers. I have a friend whose son was high-end autistic. She conned (I believe) the school district into taking him BY TAXI across Los Angeles/ and back/ because there was some special school there that he HAD to attend. Oh yes, this was EVERY DAY!!! For several years.

Well maybe. I didn't buy it. This happens thousands of times over. Is this kind of investment warranted for the zillions of kids who fall under this category? What about the bright ones who will be running this nation in 20 years??

Just a thot -- from a school teacher. I think Stossel is spot on the money. And that the NEA is screaming --- means he's right, imho. I think the unions and their grabby fingers in every pie are absolutely RUINING public education. And the Administrators are doing the rest.

hahaha.