Do you all feel as though SE or ES (special ed or emotional support) children should be in the same class room as those their age?

I'm fine with special ed being integrated into the normal classrooms but here in our district each child has a tss worker WITH THEM in their classes. This not only distracts the children but causes more crowding as some classrooms have five or six tss workers. What are your opinions and do your schools have tss workers?

I realize that it is your opinion about a TSS worker, but that completely offends me. My stepmom does that because she adores working with special needs children and not for the pay, but for the medical benefits for my autistic brother. Do you know exactly what they do? I think calling them as a whole "over paid babysitters" is ignorant, IMHO.

Personally, I think there are pros and cons to both. It is good to have that "competition" to keep them learning at a higher pace, but if they start to fall back, they can get left behind. It is also important for them to have interaction with "normal" children to create social bonds as well. Each child is different and not all children will benefit from it. It should be done on a personal basis.

I don't mind special ed or es children being in the "regular" classroom setting so long as it doesn't disturb the other children's learning experience. We had tss workers in the classroom when I was growing up for special needs children and it never bothered us, they know how to keep a low profile. Once it becomes a distraction, the child should be moved into a more controlled atmosphere to better their learning experience as well as the other childrens.

It is important for SE kids to have the same experience as others. how are they to learn to work in the real world and get along with others and really learn real life unless they are exposed on a regular basis? If they are kept in their little classroom, and that is all they know, they will then be those who can not function with instutional help. Furthermore, regular ed kids will learn tolarance and that not everyone is like them. If you are going to segragate because of learning disability you might as well go back to black and white toilets.


as far as the over crowding....they are crowded anyway. At least that teacher has some help in her classroom with the 30+ kids she would have anyway.


*all my "you"'s were you in general ;)

I realize that it is your opinion about a TSS worker, but that completely offends me. My stepmom does that because she adores working with special needs children and not for the pay, but for the medical benefits for my autistic brother. Do you know exactly what they do? I think calling them as a whole "over paid babysitters" is ignorant, IMHO.

Personally, I think there are pros and cons to both. It is good to have that "competition" to keep them learning at a higher pace, but if they start to fall back, they can get left behind. It is also important for them to have interaction with "normal" children to create social bonds as well. Each child is different and not all children will benefit from it. It should be done on a personal basis.

I was a TSS workers so yes I know what we do.

Furthermore, regular ed kids will learn tolarance and that not everyone is like them.

as far as the over crowding....they are crowded anyway. At least that teacher has some help in her classroom with the 30+ kids she would have anyway.



I agree with both of these statements. Many people are mean to special needs children because they don't understand. Putting them together can make the special needs children comfortable as well as teach the other students tolerance as you mentioned.

And from my personal experience, assistants are a valuable asset to the classroom.

i basically think that if they are just slightly behind developmentally the regular students then i definitely think that they should be integrated into the regular classrooms in some shape way or form. however if they will be a greater distraction to the regular classrooms then no i don't think so. we had this student in the special education classes in my high school who would run down the hallway screaming whenever he got the chance to get away from his aide. i was always in lunch when he did this and he would go up and hit people and try and look up girls skirts. i don't think that integrating him into a regular classroom would have been beneficial to him or to the other students. but we have had students that needed special testing requirements, etc etc in my classes in high school. only the students who couldn't control themselves were kept in the special education wing (they had their own hallway) but came and had lunch with the rest of the school during lunch rotations.

I was a TSS workers so yes I know what we do.

Well the children I have worked with, and that my mom does currently work with come over to our house, go to movies with us. She has changed their lives and given them someone to trust, as well as a friend. She has taught them things that they couldn't normally learn on their own in the classroom, and has provided them an outlet for some of their steam. I don't know what YOU do with the children, but that doesn't sound like an overpaid babysitter to me. :rolleyes

I agree, I don't want anyone to think I personally am discriminating against special needs in any way. I don't. I just feel if being in the classroom setting is disturbing not only to the other students but to the individual, then an alternative must be found. Most special needs children can function in a normal setting, whether with a helper or not, doesn't bother me. It does teach tolerance and acceptance of people different than the norm.

My mom is also one of those "overpaid sitters":rolleyes she has been with this little boy for over 2 years and over those 2 years he has learn to trust someone and knows that someone cares for him. even though her "job" is just during the school year she takes him to parks and he comes over to the house during the summer.

now to answer the question. absolutly child should be in the classrooms. this is where they learn to interact with other kids. are we suppose to keep them secluded and then after high school say "see-ya"? with my mom there in the room with him it actually keeps everything running better. if he should get out of hand, she can talk and control him so the teacher does not have to worry as much.

I think special needs children should spend maybe 75%+ in classrooms with "regular" children and 25%- in another classroom working on things they need help with. When children grow up they're all going to have to interact with others with or without disabilities. what better time than now to start that interaction and get the kids accustomed to it.

I realize that it is your opinion about a TSS worker, but that completely offends me. My stepmom does that because she adores working with special needs children and not for the pay, but for the medical benefits for my autistic brother. Do you know exactly what they do? I think calling them as a whole "over paid babysitters" is ignorant, IMHO.

Personally, I think there are pros and cons to both. It is good to have that "competition" to keep them learning at a higher pace, but if they start to fall back, they can get left behind. It is also important for them to have interaction with "normal" children to create social bonds as well. Each child is different and not all children will benefit from it. It should be done on a personal basis.


I completely agree :yes

My brother is Autistic and Noah is considered "special needs". I am very offended that you would call these teachers overpaid babysitters :shame ! They go through more school and training than your "average" teacher.

Well the children I have worked with, and that my mom does currently work with come over to our house, go to movies with us. She has changed their lives and given them someone to trust, as well as a friend. She has taught them things that they couldn't normally learn on their own in the classroom, and has provided them an outlet for some of their steam. I don't know what YOU do with the children, but that doesn't sound like an overpaid babysitter to me. :rolleyes

:rolleyes :no
Clearly I am discussing the TSS workers that I have worked with. They are KIDS in college. They do NOTall have degrees in the field. All that's required is that they have ANY degree or are going to school for early childhood development. The young TSS workers do NOT help w/the classroom at ALL. They make and receive cell calls during class, they do THEIR school work, puzzles, text message, and their paperwork WHILE sitting in the classrooms. I will not apologize for my so called ignorance as this is how MANY of the TSS workers in our school district are. This is the reason I asked what everyones opinions are on the issue.

I think it depends on the child. Some children do fine in a regular classroom atmosphere and some do not. I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with them being integrated if it works for the children.

It is important for SE kids to have the same experience as others. how are they to learn to work in the real world and get along with others and really learn real life unless they are exposed on a regular basis? If they are kept in their little classroom, and that is all they know, they will then be those who can not function with instutional help. Furthermore, regular ed kids will learn tolarance and that not everyone is like them. If you are going to segragate because of learning disability you might as well go back to black and white toilets.


as far as the over crowding....they are crowded anyway. At least that teacher has some help in her classroom with the 30+ kids she would have anyway.


*all my "you"'s were you in general ;)
Just to clarify TSS workers are not allowed to play any role in the classroom other than to attend to the child they are asigned to so they don't help the teacher with the other children. (this of course is the case ONLY here in my district)

I do not think I've met a TSS worker that had a degree. Most are SAHM's that decide they want a part-time job. :shrug

I agree, I don't want anyone to think I personally am discriminating against special needs in any way. I don't. I just feel if being in the classroom setting is disturbing not only to the other students but to the individual, then an alternative must be found. Most special needs children can function in a normal setting, whether with a helper or not, doesn't bother me. It does teach tolerance and acceptance of people different than the norm.

Joy I totally agree with what your are saying. :yes

I know what they are. My son has one. It still makes a difference.

I completely agree :yes

My brother is Autistic and Noah is considered "special needs". I am very offended that you would call these teachers overpaid babysitters :shame ! They go through more school and training than your "average" teacher.

Sarah TSS workers ARE NOT teachers and they DONOT have more training that an average teacher. In Pa you can work as a TSS with a degree of any sort.

:rolleyes :no
Clearly I am discussing the TSS workers that I have worked with. They are KIDS in college. They do NOTall have degrees in the field. All that's required is that they have ANY degree or are going to school for early childhood development. The young TSS workers do NOT help w/the classroom at ALL. They make and receive cell calls during class, they do THEIR school work, puzzles, text message, and their paperwork WHILE sitting in the classrooms. I will not apologize for my so called ignorance as this is how MANY of the TSS workers in our school district are. This is the reason I asked what everyones opinions are on the issue.

Then maybe you should talk to the school about changing the title from TSS to Overpaid Babysitters. :rolleyes Didn't we just talk about blanket statements the other day? :yes So there are some slackers in YOUR classroom, that CLEARLY does not mean that they are all slackers. There are a bunch of guys in my husband's command that do the same thing, text on duty, pass off work, etc, so does that mean that the Navy as a whole is a bunch of screw-offs too?

I do not think I've met a TSS worker that had a degree. Most are SAHM's that decide they want a part-time job. :shrug

Same here. I was a TSS worker for a short time along with my aunt. She has a degree, I did not.

Then maybe you should talk to the school about changing the title from TSS to Overpaid Babysitters. :rolleyes Didn't we just talk about blanket statements the other day? :yes So there are some slackers in YOUR classroom, that CLEARLY does not mean that they are all slackers. There are a bunch of guys in my husband's command that do the same thing, text on duty, pass off work, etc, so does that mean that the Navy as a whole is a bunch of screw-offs too?

Yes mother we had the blanket statement talk and I admitted to using them. :shrug

Ignorance is bliss. ;)

Ignorance is bliss. ;)

So back to the topic at hand do you agree with multiple TSS workers in a class room?

So back to the topic at hand do you agree with multiple TSS workers in a class room?


I think it should probably be limited to 2 or 3 at the most. All children needing one should not be placed in the same classroom.

I already put in my part. Yes, I agree with it, and see no problem with it. It helps the children, and I don't see how it's a distraction.

I think it should probably be limited to 2 or 3 at the most. All children needing one should not be placed in the same classroom.

I agree with that.

I think it should probably be limited to 2 or 3 at the most. All children needing one should not be placed in the same classroom.

April our school district is trying a new program this year that has ONE TSS w/a masters in a related field per classroom. Many parents are in an uproar over this but our class sizes have more than doubled in the past three years and the number of ES NOT SE children have grown to more than twice what it was from just the beginning of school last year. I'm leery of how it will work but wonder if one adult instead of half a dozen will work out better in the long run for both the students and teachers.

the school my mom works at there are only 5 students in the whole school that need assistants so my mom is the only one in their classroom. so being overcrowd is not an issue.

she is also a SAHM that was looking for a part-time job. no degree at all.

My son's TSS worker only comes in for morning routine, checks a few kids, makes sure they are on track and then goes on. This seems to work well with those children who have begun to be able to control, focus, and follow directions. She will come back a few times during the day. The other children are used to it, do not question it, and they understand why they come in and out.

I think it depends on the kid's level of functioning- cognitively, behaviorally, emotionally, and the reason for special ed services. Lots of kids can be integrated into a normal classroom for part of all of the school day. Some kids need to be isolated, especially kids with severe behavioral problems or severe/profound Mental retardation.

Basically, if it benefits the kids and isn't a detriment to other kids, let them be integrated. If it is not beneficial or is detrimental to other kids, keep the separate.

The goal for every special ed child is for them to be in their LRE (least restrictive environment). It varies greatly from child to child. It doesn't matter what their level of functioning is or their cognitive levels. Some do better in "general education" classrooms, and others do better when their time is split between the two.

What some people don't realize is the difficulty of having 10 or 15 students in a classroom, and each one of them have completly different needs, reading levels, behavioral needs, cognitive skills, etc. And the teacher has to take all of things into consideration before teaching. Keeping a special needs child in a special education classroom all day when they can clearly benefit from being somewhere else is wrong. Teachers need to take more time to carefully consider where each of their students need to be, and stop throwing the "troublemakers" into special ed because they don't feel like dealing with them. Yes, it's sad, but it happens ALLLL the time!

TSS workers are VERY important. I don't think they are a distraction if they are doing their job. It's not fair to say a classroom should only have a limited number at one time though. Some students need them all day long, while others may not. Whatever is best for the student should be the top priority! And they SHOULD NOT all be lumped into one classroom for convience purposes! That totally defeats the goal of having each child in their LRE!

Oprah yesterday was just heart breaking. Our school system is failing right before our eyes! We have more power and money than ANY other country, but we don't channel it where it needs to be. Education should be on the top of that list, but instead it's at the bottom!

The goal for every special ed child is for them to be in their LRE (least restrictive environment). It varies greatly from child to child. It doesn't matter what their level of functioning is or their cognitive levels. Some do better in "general education" classrooms, and others do better when their time is split between the two.

What some people don't realize is the difficulty of having 10 or 15 students in a classroom, and each one of them have completly different needs, reading levels, behavioral needs, cognitive skills, etc. And the teacher has to take all of things into consideration before teaching. Keeping a special needs child in a special education classroom all day when they can clearly benefit from being somewhere else is wrong. Teachers need to take more time to carefully consider where each of their students need to be, and stop throwing the "troublemakers" into special ed because they don't feel like dealing with them. Yes, it's sad, but it happens ALLLL the time!

TSS workers are VERY important. I don't think they are a distraction if they are doing their job. It's not fair to say a classroom should only have a limited number at one time though. Some students need them all day long, while others may not. Whatever is best for the student should be the top priority! And they SHOULD NOT all be lumped into one classroom for convience purposes! That totally defeats the goal of having each child in their LRE!

Oprah yesterday was just heart breaking. Our school system is failing right before our eyes! We have more power and money than ANY other country, but we don't channel it where it needs to be. Education should be on the top of that list, but instead it's at the bottom!




I agree with everything you just said michelleb. you couldnt have said it any better.

The goal for every special ed child is for them to be in their LRE (least restrictive environment). It varies greatly from child to child. It doesn't matter what their level of functioning is or their cognitive levels. Some do better in "general education" classrooms, and others do better when their time is split between the two.

What some people don't realize is the difficulty of having 10 or 15 students in a classroom, and each one of them have completly different needs, reading levels, behavioral needs, cognitive skills, etc. And the teacher has to take all of things into consideration before teaching. Keeping a special needs child in a special education classroom all day when they can clearly benefit from being somewhere else is wrong. Teachers need to take more time to carefully consider where each of their students need to be, and stop throwing the "troublemakers" into special ed because they don't feel like dealing with them. Yes, it's sad, but it happens ALLLL the time!

TSS workers are VERY important. I don't think they are a distraction if they are doing their job. It's not fair to say a classroom should only have a limited number at one time though. Some students need them all day long, while others may not. Whatever is best for the student should be the top priority! And they SHOULD NOT all be lumped into one classroom for convience purposes! That totally defeats the goal of having each child in their LRE!

Oprah yesterday was just heart breaking. Our school system is failing right before our eyes! We have more power and money than ANY other country, but we don't channel it where it needs to be. Education should be on the top of that list, but instead it's at the bottom!

Beautifully put, Michelle. I agree 100%.

The goal for every special ed child is for them to be in their LRE (least restrictive environment). It varies greatly from child to child. It doesn't matter what their level of functioning is or their cognitive levels. Some do better in "general education" classrooms, and others do better when their time is split between the two.

Yes, but for some kids the least restrictive env't is in a totally inclusive classroom. Are you seriously saying that a 12th grader with severe or profound MR could or should be integrated into a normal 12th grade classroom? That will benefit the kid in no way.

How about a paranoid schizophrenic? Do you think they could be put into a normal high school classroom?

I truly believe that level of functioning and cognitive levels do need to be considered. There are many cases where inclusion is just not possible.

Yes, but for some kids the least restrictive env't is in a totally inclusive classroom. Are you seriously saying that a 12th grader with severe or profound MR could or should be integrated into a normal 12th grade classroom? That will benefit the kid in no way.

How about a paranoid schizophrenic? Do you think they could be put into a normal high school classroom?

I truly believe that level of functioning and cognitive levels do need to be considered. There are many cases where inclusion is just not possible.

You're right, for some kids it wouldn't work and they might not need to be in a regular classroom. But some would benefit from it. It's all up to the individual needs of the child. Everyone person with severe MR isn't the same.