the special people

  Things change over time, mostly what we call those changes is what changes though. I was remembering when I was in elementary school. At one end of the hall was the room for the special education kids. That is what it said on the door, special education. The kids in there were retarded. Yes, that was the official term being used at that time. I seldom saw or heard them, they just quietly came and went mostly unnoticed. It wasn't that anyone thought any less of them, no one was being mean or cruel to them, they were special. What you inferred from that designation was determined by whatever your parents told you, and by your peers. I've read were today they are incorporated into the regular classrooms, treated equally in all respects, whenever that is possible. I hear they are called challenged and have an intellectual disability. That is certainly a kinder, gentler way of describing their condition. The term was changed over time, but the meaning is exactly the same. Nothing has really changed at all. 

  Now back then those individuals were called special. They received special care and consideration due to their mental condition/capabilities. The objective of sending them to school was to educate them, teach them how to function in society. No longer were they to be locked away somewhere. It isn't simply accepting the fact that they have this condition, but an attempt to change that condition. It isn't a subtle difference between the two mindsets, it is life changing for those afflicted, as well as those who love and care for the person. The individual receives special treatment. The goal being to make it so they don't have to receive that special treatment in the future. Yes, that is the goal, not to be treated special but to reach a point where that isn't necessary.

  Yes, terms change over time and the way things are seen change too. I'm seeing a lot of folks that want to be special these days. They are demanding special treatment as well. You should call then by whatever gender or pronoun they choose regardless of reality. You should accept their behaviors as perfectly normal and natural even when they are most definitely aberrant behaviors. You should hire them, give them special privileges, change the rules of social convention and accommodate them in every way. They are the "special" people. The big change being the special people are now teaching the class! The way I see it this isn't going to work out very well at all. 

 Today we use terms like non-binary or gender fluid as though that were normal. It isn't and requires treatment. Yet the narrative is these folks are special. Yes, I agree, they are the special people. Not all are a danger, not all are a problem, but all are special. They require special treatment not simple acceptance. That was recognized when we took the special folks out of those closed rooms. We didn't just open the door however; we provided training and guidance. The hope was that one day they wouldn't be special. Yeah, let's go back to that.