I don't know...I don't know that you can actually call it "education". It's more like respite care for the parents or babysitting. I tend to think it ought to be separated from the school system, but that's just me.
As M0sby says, with some students there is progress, but with others, not really, and none is really expected because of the nature of the disability.
But I don't want either. Schools receive more funding based on the number of kids who qualify for "special ed", and we know they jump hurdles to qualify anyone they can, including perfectly healthy kids. ;-)
From what I've seen, that's a myth.
Frankly, I have seen a number of students who are borderline retarded, and the school refuses to place them in special education, saying that they are just slow learners. When you're within 1-2 points on an IQ test, I think it could go either way.
On the other hand, I've seen a number of parents who try to get their children placed in special ed. as ADHD, for instance, rather than just making them behave and do their work. These also tend to be the parents who threaten to sue the school if the students fail, even if it is because the student hasn't done any work.
It's funny you would put it that way. "Babysitting" is what many homeschoolers call the entire public school system - "a glorified babysitting service". But we're talking about the classes with the healthy kids.
I've seen a number of parents who try to get their children placed in special ed. as ADHD, for instance, rather than just making them behave and do their work.
My experience has been just the opposite - I know a lot of parents who were pressured into the ADHD diagnosis and medication by school teachers and administrators with the threat that, if their kids weren't medicated, they'd be placed in special ed. Most of the parents I know removed their children and either started homeschooling or put them in Catholic school.
One major reason why I won't put my sons in school is the tendency for the schools in our area to diagnose ADHD and push medication.