05/03/2026
This is why we rarely want to label kids with an ED category. And the school in this article seems like a dream. Many are rampant with abuse and outdated tactics that cause harm. We are failing the kids that need us most. 
Their comfort in his classroom is a double-edged sword. On one hand, Kwakenat has earned students' trust and affection; on the other hand, he says most don't do well in school outside of his room, unless they're with the other EBD teacher. Kwakenat says lumping them together defeats the purpose of special education, which is to educate students in the "least restrictive environment (LRE)."
"The whole goal should be to have that student be able to exit special education at some point, because we've done our jobs," he said. "However, what we see is the lion's share of students that receive services in special education for EBD — they rarely exit."
Every school has problem students, but some are labeled emotionally disturbed (ED) and taught separately from others.
