Early 80's Special Ed classifications?

Question

I was in Special Ed beginning in 3rd grade. I once saw a piece of paper that had my name on it and the letters C.E.H., which I later learned stood for Class for the Emotionally Handicapped. Can anyone tell me what this means?

Answer 1

The eligibility for students with Emotional Disturbance (we say that instead of Handicapped nowadays) hasn't changed much since first published in the late 60's:

"...a condition exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of time and to a marked degree that adversely affects a child's educational performance--

(A) An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors.

(B) An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers.

(C) Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances.

(D) A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression.

(E) A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems." [Code of Federal Regulations, Title 34, Section 300.7(c)(4)(i)]

As defined by the IDEA, emotional disturbance includes schizophrenia but does not apply to children who are socially maladjusted, unless it is determined that they have an emotional disturbance. [Code of Federal Regulation, Title 34, Section 300.7(c)(4)(ii)]

The classes are supposed to focus on behavior, rather than academics.  In these classrooms, most have level systems or other type of behavior improvement programs.  All of the students have qualified for Special Education services and have IEP's.  

The problem with the definition is it's pretty fuzzy and outdated.  Modern medicine and psychology has gotten a lot better at describing maladaptive behaviors.  

Excluding people with 'social maladjustments' is supposed to address folks who have grown up in poverty, children who have had negative role models or different/ineffective parenting.  But I tell you what, if the kids on 'Super Nanny' came to school acting the same way, many of them would get referred for ED faster than a speeding bullet.  There are lot of kids labeled ED because of family issues, in my opinion.  I had a kid referred for it this year who'd witnessed a murder in her father's meth lab!  Then, she got put in foster care after her mom got pregnant again and decided she'd rather have the baby than this kid!  And the teacher's biggest complaint?  The kid steals, lies (about stealing), and gets distracted easily.  Well, who wouldn't in that situation?  The teacher is very lucky that was the worst of her problems.  This kid will need some help adjusting to 'regular life', sure, but I didn't think ED classes were the way to do it right now, and legally, he hadn't shown these behaviors for a marked period of time, anyway- and I couldn't see how we could prove it wasn't social maladjustment.  The problem is, another school, another psych, another team, or whatever, and this kid might have qualified as ED.

Answer 2

Educationally, a child is considered emotionally handicapped when the child's ability to learn or perform developmental tasks appropriate to their age or gender because of emotional difficulties. These difficulties can include anxiety and withdrawal, inappropriate or atypical behaviors, fears or tendency to develop physical symptoms in response to personal or school problems or a pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression. In general, it means that at that time it was felt that you were having educational difficulties that were a result of emotions that were interfering with your ability to learn in a general education class. There have been problems in the past ( and to date) with certain racial/ethnic/gender biases that caused certain groups to be overidentifies in this category if their behavior did not fit in with the norm. Also, in the past, many individuals with autism spectrum disorders may have been classified as emotionally handicapped due to "atypical behaviors". Hope this helps:=)

Answer 3

The other answers are very good, but I would like to add that a child's placement in a certain category of special ed doesn't necessarily mean that the studend has that diagnosis.

A diagnosis has to be made by a doctor, pyschologist, speech therapist, or other qualified individual.  This would most likely be based on testing and/or observation.

The special education team, consists of all relevant parties (typcially parents, teachers, therapists such as physical therapists, speech therapists; and administrators, but the team can consist of these and any other people that the team members feel would help or are involved with the education of the child in any way).  

The class placement is decided by the IEP team, and doesn't necessarily have to be the same as the diagnosis. The team, in theory, should look at the available classrooms and decide together which placement would best serve the needs of that particular student. There is not a separate classroom for every diagnosis.

So, if the paperwork that you saw was referring to the class you were in, it doesn't necessarily mean that you were diagnosed as "emotionally disturbed," although it could.

Answer 4

An emotional handicap is a condition which results in improper behavior that interferes with the individual's ability to learn and function under normal circumstances. Emotional handicaps are typically divided into three categories: psychologically disturbed, severely to moderately disturbed, and mildly disturbed. These disorders are characterized by behavior problems extending over a period of time which adversely affect the person's daily functioning, learning, occupation, or social life.