Can children with borderline IQ benefit from being educated as retarded?

Question

My wife is a counselor at an elementary school. One of the children is only slightly above the IQ of a retarded child. To the best of your knowledge, would special education geared towards retarded children be helpful for this kid?

Answer 1

Possibly. A lot of times classes or programs for children with cognitive deficits involve a smaller group setting with a higher teacher to student ratio. Meaning the children get a lot more attention and recieve instruction in smaller groups with more frequent checks for understanding. It often involves more repeition and practice of skills also which can benefit a struggling learner. The child's IEP goals should really dictate what they are being taught. Some programs for children with cognitive disorders also have some time focused on life skills such as money math, shopping, reading recipes, language development etc. Depending on the student in questions adapative skills this may or may not be appropriate. So as in all IEP questions in depend on the child's individual needs. The IEP goals should help point to the best placement and whether or not the program in question would be beneficial. As an educator you are always suppose to consider a range of options .

Answer 2

I would recommend that the child be evaluated by a child psychologist to determine the underlying problem.  A lot times children are put in these classes with developmentally disabled children and they just have some form of dislexia or some other learning disability.  However, understanding what is going on with the child will enable educators to put the child in the appropriate classes to help him or her excel.  Hey George Bush was dislexic and look where he is, he holds the highest position in our country.

Answer 3

This child will benefit a whole lot more when people stop referring them as "A r****d" and start referring them as "A special needs child."

BTW, Albert Einstein was "A r****d" when he was younger but look what he accomplished. Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Woodrow Wilson, Dwight Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy were also "retards" but they STILL managed to do more in life then "Scrub some sh*tty, nasty *ss toilet for a living."  

This is coming from someone that is not only "A Learning disabled r****d" but is also attending college where I'm currently majoring in Computer/ Electrical Engineering, is maintaining a 4.00 GPA while maintaining a full time job with Teledyne as a machinist, is on the 2006-07 National Dean's List, is a active member of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, and was accepted into renowned universities that included but not limited to the University of Virginia and Columbia.

Answer 4

Since you've stated that he's 'only slightly' better than the r****d level (no offense), I suggest that it might benefit him.