Children today are noticeably different from previous generations, and the proof is in the news coverage we see every day. This site shows you what’s happening in schools around the world.
Children are increasingly disabled and chronically ill, and the education system has to accommodate them. Things we've long associated with autism, like sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety and lack of social skills, are now problems affecting mainstream students.
Blame is predictably placed on bad parenting (otherwise known as trauma from home).
Addressing mental health needs is as important as academics for modern educators. This is an unrecognized disaster. The stories here are about children who can’t learn or behave like children have always been expected to. What childhood has become is a chilling portent for the future of mankind.
CHECK OUT MY SUBSTACK:
What will happen in another 4 years? How can we go on like this? This is a national (and international) problem of monumental proportions. We have an entire new class of children who cannot be accommodated by the system: many are manifestly neurologically impaired. Meanwhile, the government and the medical profession sleep on regardless. John Stone, UK media editor, Age of Autism
The generation of American children born after 1990 are arguably the sickest generation in the history of our country. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
It seemed to me that with rising autism prevalence, you’d also see rising autism costs to society, and it turns out, the costs are catastrophic. They calculated that in 2015 autism cost the United States $268 billion and they projected that if autism continues at its current rate, we’re looking at one trillion dollars a year in autism costs by 2025, so within five years. Toby Rogers, PhD, Political economist
(Thailand) Bangkok: Call for support for ASD, ADHD
A Bangkok councilor for the Lat Krabang district has submitted a motion urging the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) council to enhance the education system in order to better support children with special needs.
Surajit Pongsingwittaya, a Pheu Thai councilor, made clear the importance of addressing the learning difficulties and disabilities faced by students aged 6 to 15, as indicated by data from the Mental Health Department. These challenges include conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism, often resulting in poor academic performance.According to Surajit, the BMA oversees 437 schools, with 158 of them offering special education programs. However, there is a shortage of specialized staff, with only 362 teachers available to instruct 4,213 students with learning disabilities. An additional 340 trained teachers are required to adequately meet the needs of these students. This group of students often goes without proper evaluation, leading to a decline in their learning capabilities when placed in regular classrooms alongside their peers.
To address these challenges, Surajit proposed that each school under the BMA implement a system for identifying and classifying students with special needs. He also stressed the importance of ensuring that all 437 schools have suitably trained teachers to support these students effectively. Additionally, he called for the establishment of an early identification system for learning disabilities, starting from kindergarten enrollment.
The motion has received support from council members and also called on the BMA to develop a comprehensive plan. This plan is expected to include providing appropriate remuneration for specialty teachers and leveraging technology to assist in meeting the educational needs of children with special needs.