Placement dilemmas arise for students who appear to need more than the local school is able or willing to provide. Schools for blind and visually impaired students are often an ideal choice, even for a short period of time, so that necessary skills and understanding can be learned. A spectrum of choice is not always possible. The concept of normalization provides another dilemma. We have no meaningful standards by which such issues are judged.
Teacher certification raises another dilemma.
While I love the idea that all teachers will be trained to identify, teach and mentor all students in their communities, I shudder to think about a symphony orchestra, playhouse, hospital or courtroom in which all participants are generalists. I believe that specialists perform extremely important functions in our culture. Students with visual impairments deserve teachers who have highly sophisticated training and skills to meet their unique needs. I am aware that taxpayers deserve a sense of accountability for their support of education. For too long, public school instruction has been permitted to reflect the judgment of local administrators and school boards.