Flagpole mom--editorial

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Letters to the editor

Thursday, September 07, 2000

Society loses when we fail to give equal access to education

Thank you for the article " Mother of Disabled Boy Stages Unusual Protest "

(Aug. 29). There is good news here: that free speech lives for those who can

speak. I am glad that the authorities did not attempt to stop or ridicule

this mom. Wow, does her presence at the flagpole in protest of the absence

of federally required services for her disabled child have a lot to say

about the blatant inadequacies of public education for disabled children,

who are expected, under the assistance of federal laws, to swim in the

mainstream.

Schools are given seed money for inclusion programs, and yet students are

left to fend for themselves in ways that undermine the quality of education

for everyone who would benefit from the full participation by those

students. Congress understood this -- that is why there are not just one or

two but three federal laws to provide services: the Vocational

Rehabilitation Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the

Americans with Disabilities Act.

It is so rare that Congress says anything clearly, but here Congress has

pronounced the federal policy three times, underscoring the keen

understanding of how much our future depends on the contributions of

well-educated disabled citizens who are enabled, through the public

education system, to reach their full potential.

When will the day come when there are public schools for all? Even though

public education is not a constitutional right, equal access to quality

education and equal opportunity is a right for everyone in the United

States.

And since even Einstein was learning disabled (he was dyslexic), it seems

that the loss to society when we fail to educate a disabled child who can

become a brilliant leader, wage-earning taxpayer and informed voter is just

too great to bear. In the aggregate, we cannot afford the collective risk of

losing the talented resources of today's disabled students in the next

generation; injury to one is an injury to all.

ILISE L. FEITSHANS

Haddonfield, N.J.

Editor's note: The writer teaches a course via the Internet on the law of

occupational health for Cornell University.

Inclusion is possible

As a parent of a son with Down syndrome who attends ninth grade in North

Allegheny School District, I have watched with interest the story of the

parent in Washington County who has tied herself to a flagpole ( " Mother of

Disabled Boy Stages Unusual Protest, " Aug. 29). It was disheartening for me

that a parent has had to go to such extreme measures for her son to be

properly educated.

My son, Ricky, has been in an inclusive setting since he started school at

age 5. It takes a partnership between many people to make this work. We have

had hurdles along the way; however, with many working together, Ricky is on

his way to being a productive member of our community. Educators have

learned better teaching methods that transfer to all of their students.

I hope all of the community members in Washington County will accept and

welcome this little boy. After all, he is a child in their community.

TERRI RICHARDSON

lin Park