sped = special ed

[Amy West]

On 7/1/10 12:00 AM, Automatic digest processor wrote:
> Date:    Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:36:54 -0400
> From:    Neal Whitman<nwhitman at AMERITECH.NET>
> Subject: Re: sped = special ed
>
> My friend who lived in McLean, Virginia, reported in 1982 that "sped" was
> used in his junior high school, and explained it as a blend of "spaz" and
> "nerd."
>
> Neal
>

I don't think that etymology is sound. Seeing the cites that Bill found
with it in all caps supports it as a blend of Special Education.

Once again, I fall victim to the recency fallacy. I worked as a direct
care staff in a group home for MR adults from 84-89 and I don't recall
hearing the term. But, I was working with an adult population.

I found interesting that of the cites that Bill found, the first 3 were
Mass. publications.

--
---Amy West

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