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.

[superstitious]

Not sure what the god's green earth stuff is all about (and admittedly, I'm a wretched debater) but I don't take offense. I think that everyone is "necessary", and that's not me speaking from the perspective of someone who is cheery, friendly, or believes in anything remotely related to "God's plan."

Each individual is different from the next, so I won't falsely say that without a shadow of a doubt, this would apply to everyone. There are mentally retarded individuals that do have a certain place in society. Some can work in workshops, some can do the McDonalds job thing (no laughing XD). I think when we start to "weed" out those seemingly unneccessary individuals, a line begins to turn gray. At what point does someone stop being necessary?

That's on the rhetorical side, but making the judgment that one isn't necessary because of something they cannot control (social, ecomonic, mental status) is opening a huge can of worms.

Again, I'm not at all a good debater. I tend to speak from my own personal experiences and rely less on googling subjects and what not to express what I feel my points are (valid or not, coherent or not).

Out of curiosity, what would you do with these individuals? If they are not necessary, should they continue to exist? If an amniocentesis is performed on a pregnant mother and genetic defects are found that would indicate a severe disability, should the pregnancy be terminated? After all, those children aren't necessary, right?

((Please, please, please know that I'm not at all trying to argue. I'm sincerely curious.))

@angelrevelation, my child has autism. That's his disability. You'd be surprised (or not)at how functional he has become. I credit a great deal of his functionality to the special education programs he's been in. Part of my concern of removing special education is because I've seen such growth, due to special educators. I haven't seen it with just my child either, I've seen it in several children.

/edit: crap, I just saw your response. I was away from my computer and barely came back and hit reply. Oh well. It's bedtime now. I'll figure it out/edit this thing later.