There is a classic story of a child who comes home from school and says to his mother, "My teacher was mean today." Today, this is not the story of a student who feels his workload is too heavy or who feels his teacher doesn't care about him because he wasn't called. Today this is a story of real abuse. Reports of child abuse in schools today far exceed any evidence recorded in years past. This abuse is causing controversy in schools across the nation. Alarmingly, statistics on child abuse in public schools include a population of children who need protection because their inability to protect themselves is even lower than that of the average young student. These children are our mentally and physically challenged students. Students with mental disabilities are placed in the care of institutions designed to nurture and protect them. The people responsible for these students exploit their authority to a large extent. It is universally believed that a teacher's job is described as one that helps guide children towards a successful future. Qualifications for this position include providing a safe and stimulating environment. Teachers are taught acceptable types of discipline and workplace standards are expected to be upheld. A professional, safe classroom allows students to feel comfortable learning, functioning, and developing the tools to excel. Families of students with mental disabilities should have peace of mind knowing that their children are living in a safe learning environment. Child abuse is an unthinkable crime under any circumstances, not to mention the abuse of children who are typically more helpless and less capable of communicating than their peers. Incidents of student abuse in schools are not always reported. This is d...... half of the paper...... one to eliminate the possibility of abuse in the first place? Child abuse in today's schools targeting students with special needs has increased dramatically in recent years. A teacher who abuses a student could end up in prison, but most cases lead to the staff member being fired so that he or she is free to seek employment at another institution at the time the teacher has just been fired. Institutions attended by these young children must improve the qualifications of the teachers and assistants they hire. People who are the worst candidates for working with children with special needs are still present in the job market. Children with special needs deserve to be educated and cared for with respect and professionalism. Their families deserve to know that when they leave their children at school they are treated as if they were at home.