What is Special about Special Education Revisited: the Mentally Retarded

Abstract

This paper reflects on the increasing emphasis on special class placement of educable mentally retarded children and special preparation for teachers. This is in view of the increasing evidence that special classes have been something of a disappointment in terms of accelerating the academic progress of these children. It is proposed that a necessary area of study is a careful analysis of the extent to which special classes actually differ from regular classes in regard to teacher techniques, materials, and content.