As a special education teacher this is a frustrating to read. I have nothing to hide in my classroom. My staff and I continually provide the best care and education for each individual student in my classroom. However like in many facets of education the good teachers are being affected by the bad. Putting cameras in the special education classroom is a reaction to the small minority of special education teachers who picked the wrong profession. These few individuals have done the unthinkable from verbal, to physical, and emotional abuse of students who are often unable to communicate or defend themselves. Their behaviors has forced districts, lawmakers, and communities to figure out ways to protect special needs students from bad people. I assume the cameras will help catch bad teachers before the long term abuse starts, but I believe districts need to do a better job hiring and and provide ongoing staff development for special education teachers. Administrators should be in the self contained classrooms as much as they are in the regular education classrooms providing support and mentoring. All to often the self contained teacher is left alone as long as the kids are quiet and parents are happy.
Sometimes it is okay to let a teacher go because they aren't in the right line of work.
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