ABSTRACT
Special education is supposed to provide a free and appropriate education for students with disabilities that is designed to meet their unique educational needs. People might emphasize different reasons for providing special education, with some stressing a moral obligation and others underscoring an economic rationale. However, some might see more sinister reasons for the existence of special education: Is it a costly way to shuffle problem students aside so that they do not disrupt the functions of the larger school system? This section examines why we have special education. Consider some of these questions as you read these chapters.
What are the moral-ethical reasons for having special education?
What are the economic reasons for having special education?
Why can’t education be special for all students?
Why is it easier to see the need for special education for students with sensory or severe disabilities than it is for students with learning disabilities or emotional or behavioral disorders?
Are the reasons for having special education the same regardless of the kind of disability students may have?
