Special Education/Programs for the "Mentally Challenged", Useful or useless? Options

[MissHygienic]

There has been an ongoing debate about whether or not to levy taxes to properly fund public schools. I already know of a few under-funded school districts who forced teachers to work double shifts, and many schools were not able to provide paper, pens, or pencils because no one paid enough taxes.

With that said, what is your opinion on special education that is funded by the state? Public schools are already having a hard enough time. Should people waste more time and money on people with irreconcilable disabilities, or do you believe that all people should have education, whether or not they make use of it?

Discuss amongst yourselves.

[Cowboy]

Those who are completely dependent, and or viably catatonic should be home-schooled and or cared for by the parents. If they choose to keep such, it seems as if it should be their obligation to care for it.

For all others, for those that can learn, and can function, well, teach them as much as they're capable of learning. Clearly, there will come a terminal point, an extent of their cognitive abilities, but if they can function and or carry out low-level tasks in society, by all means, train them and prepare them well for such.