I have no idea why he is taking the class. His counselor told me the first time I met with him that the student is working on an automotive certificate and doesn't need my class for his certificate.

It's unfortunate that our current education system (K-12) has basically taught students with disabilities that they can do anything. Someone who can't read or write or comprehend is never going to make it through college, but some of the students I have had with disabilities truly think they are going to go to medical school after they graduate college. It seems cruel to me to raise their expectations beyond what they are actually capable of achieving. I'm not trying to be mean here, just realistic. I realize that many students with disabilities are quite capable of succeeding. I have helped many of them achieve their goals. However, I do not understand the mentality of the public schools where everyone gets a certificate or a ribbon and everyone is a winner. Those expectations are false. What good is building up their self-esteem only to send them out into the real world so they can be knocked back down. The real world does not allow everyone to be a winner. Realistically, for there to be a winner, there also has to be a loser. Unfortunately, the public schools are teaching kids that showing up for class is enough to pass (or succeed).

Also, what kind of message is this sending to kids who do work hard to achieve their goals? What motivation do they have to strive for improvement when the person sitting next to them is getting the same grades and doing nothing to earn them?

It's no wonder our education system is in such a mess.