In America, every child is entitled, in fact, required to receive an education. Fortunately, through state funding, children can receive that education for free from public schools. What happens, though, when that money runs out? Someone is bound to suffer from that, and most recently it has been the Special Education department. These kids, for whatever reason, need special help from teachers that is often on a one on one basis. That in turn means a lot of teachers, meaning more money. Recently, Michigan schools have decreased funding to those programs, forcing the schools to integrate special needs students into mainstream academic classes with general population students. Doing this put the children, their peers, and the teachers all in a lose/lose situation; Special Education kids do not belong in mainstream academic classes.
             Some may feel that this is a good solution, and that it gives these children important interaction with the other areas in the school. This is true, but a Science or History class is not the place for them to get that interaction. It is necessary for a child with Down Syndrome or any other mental handicap to be able interact with other kids; however, they don't get to do that in academic classes. They spend all of their time trying to understand what's going on in the classrooms, and in reality they never will understand. What these kids need is to receive this interaction in non-academic, hands on classes. Classes like gym, art, and music classes allow special needs children to have time with other kids, while learning from it. They can learn how to play games with others and work together while understanding what's going on around them. Those classes are perfect places for them to be able to intermix with other students and be a part of their school. That way, no one is suffering from it.
             With special needs students in their classes, mainstream students and teachers can suffer a great d...