Topic: Special Education

A special education teacher from upstate New York reports a significant increase in kindergarten students entering school with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnoses over the last decade. The report highlights unique behaviors such as sensory sensitivity and repetitive actions, while noting that some parents prefer ADHD diagnoses over ASD.

The negative impact of increased screen time during COVID-19 lockdowns is discussed, with reports suggesting students are now two years behind in learning. An email from a staff member at North Academy in New York describes an "off the grid" school model that limits smart devices and laptops, resulting in significantly lower rates of medication, suicide, and social contagion issues among students.

A 2007 clip from the State of the Black Union features Keira Davis discussing the breakdown of discipline in homes and schools. Modern school policies are criticized for discouraging students from telling parents about bullying to avoid "escalation." In Portland, a woman on the street expressed indifference toward the shooting of a Trump supporter.

Information from Apple's training campus in Austin reveals that the company emphasizes Steve Wozniak over Steve Jobs in its internal culture. Additionally, the hosts discuss the concept of "neurodiversity" entering school administrations. This movement suggests that conditions like autism are natural variations rather than disorders, which the hosts suspect is a way for schools to reduce spending on expensive special education programs.

Dvorak tells a story about a banker friend who moved from New York to Texas to escape the "crazy" special education requirements in NY schools. They discuss how minor "tics" or "nerdy" behavior are now classified as autism to secure drug sales and research funding. They joke that a young Bill Gates would have been "drugged up" and marginalized under today's Common Core standards.