how can we ever take political correctness seriously when normal words suddenly become "hate crimes"

[Charis1]

not sure if this link will work, but this head teacher was investigated by the police for a "hate crime" for using the term "special needs" when referring to ASD.

schoolsimprovement.net/headteacher-cleared-in-police-disability-hate-crime-investigation-for-saying-autistic-pupil-had-special-needs/

^^
yes, if someone tells you are special then it's a compliment.

but if someone tells you you are 'spesh-ullll' while using air quotes and one of those low, drony 'fake thick' voices - then it's NOT a compliment. And that is sadly what children do to each other nowadays.

additional means more than the usual, not an afterthought.

In Scotland, it's Additional Needs. I was an Additional Support for Learning (ASL) Teacher.

The article is very vague about the actual details. What concerns me is that any identifiable comment about an individual pupil's condition was posted on the school website.

dear op
SEN and SN are not the same thing.

they are, completely interchangeable, Special needs, or SN, is an abbreviation of special educational needs, or SEN

they are not the same

they are not the same

absolutly they are, it is normal to WRITE SEN, and SAY "special needs" because it is shorter. No distinction what so ever. I say that as a SEN ( special needs) teacher of 20 years experience.

SEN and SN are not interchangeable.

ffs OP they are not the same

AND i say that as a parent of a child with sn
and one that had SEN

they ARE NOT THE SAME

Charis you are wrong. I say that as a parent on a child with SEN, and as a parent governor at his specialist school.

absolutly they are, exactly the same thing. As I said, I am a SEN teacher in writing, and a"special needs " teacher in speech. We have a SEN department in writing, and a "special needs" department in speech, We offer learning support to SEN pupils in writing, or "special needs" pupils in speech.

It is exactly and precisely the same term, and completely interchangeable, and has identical meaning.

You are deluded, they are identical.

i don't care if you are a teacher
they are not the same thing

How rude are you!

note to self
don't feed the uneducated person

Shakirasma im with you

sorry. but they are. You might not think so but they are.

do you have any idea wht you are talking about?
What is SEN?

Why, because you say so? Even though you are wrong? If you really are a teacher you seriously need some up to date training.

Shakirasma well said

Rather than just saying 'they're not the same thing', would anybody like to explain what the difference is? I'm genuinely interested.

do you have any idea wht you are talking about? yes, 20 years experience

If you really are a teacher you seriously need some up to date training. no, not a teacher any more, now a consultant: I do the training.

You are absolutly proving my point. This silly pernickity piddling around with finding this word offensive, then that word offensive, then the next word offensive.

The only result of this attitude is to prevent communication.

I couldn't be bothered to click on the link, but was it a Daily Mail headline?

My DH insists on describing our dog as "special needs". I am tired of explaining to him that she is VERY special, and her needs are quite specific, but that doesn't make her "special needs".

It's interesting to me that when I was a kid (a million years ago), in the playground "spaz" was a completely acceptable insult. It isn't now. (and this is a GOOD thing!) Most kids wouldn't know it. But they DO know what "special needs" means, because they often have kids with SEN in their class, so that has become the insult.