Re: Alyssa's Drama - now school systems

[Guest guest]

I apologize if this is off topic, please delete it if so or offensive

as it is not my intent.

Thank you Caroline, for standing up with your opinions. I greatly

appreciate your convictions. I do think that you are right Don,

sometimes the opinions here can be very strong, and I admit, that it

is EXTREMELY difficult for me to feel comfortable enough to step in

with a dissenting opinion, but thank you all in advance for bearing

with me. I have tried to post this several times, each time deleting

it and worrying about the thoughts that would come from it.

I come from a long line of elementary teachers, and administrators.

My grandmother was a reading specialist in high schools, and my

mother is currently a 3rd grade teacher in a public school, who

specializes in reading recovery. My stepfather is also an elementary

school principal, who's daughter has severe learning disabilities,

seizures and mild CP. So I have grown up with lots of experiences,

including my own experiences with accelerated course work and " gifted

& Talented " programs. This includes parents returning home CRYING,

because she felt her hands were tied by the government regulations

and the state financial considerations.

I don't think that public school is a terrible place, all the time.

NOt to say there aren't schools that are doing a disservice, but

there are institutions that aren't just pushing our children to form

molds or pop out of a cookie cutter. Part of the current issue is GW

Bush's " no child left behind " policy, that from experience in my

family, is putting administrators and teachers in a horrible

position when it comes to making special needs for children with

learning disabilities - REQUIRING schools to mark those children with

the same measures as all others. Many states have exams to pass high

school, but i do believe that there should be special provisions. My

stepdad threatened to tell parents why their school was not on the

accredited list in not such a nice way, and the state jumped at his

words and has tried to squelch his voice. Don, I think you are right

to criticize larger governmental organizations for these types of

problems within the school systems.

My experience in high school and middle school, and even elementary

school was not cookie cutter. As an overacheiver, I had special

spelling lists and reading assignments with other students, and even

tested out of some courses, taking high school courses a few years

early. They provided plenty of assistance to me, and challenged me

where I needed it. The school had several levels of courses

availiable to each student, and also had technical classes for those

going directly into trades or industry. They prepared all students

for all walks of life, with all different levels of ability. This is

in a town of 4,000 people in the middle of Maine.

The same school however, encouraged my stepsister, with many learning

disabilities, CP, seizures and major vision problems, to attend

university. My sister did not know the difference between a noun and

a verb when she graduated high school. Did they do her a disservice?

I believe so. When she applied to go to nursing school, she got in,

and then quit after her 2nd week because she could not do it. It was

not a realistic goal that was impressed upon her. She felt she

failed, and as a result, my stepfather raised all hell with the

school and their special education instructors. (he works in the

same district) The topic of contention was that not all children are

created equal, and that not everyone is able to be doctors and

nurses, but that there are places for everyone, and she should have

been nurtured into something she was CAPABLE of, not into failure.

My family is all for reaching for the stars, but I think that this

instance was unrealistic for her.

I guess, that I don't believe we can make a blanket statement against

the educational system. In Europe, and even Canada there are

qualification exams and even more strict educational systems, which

I'm assuming have provisions for those who need special education and

assistance. But I don't believe all educational systems are bad or

that all children should be homeschooled. I got a great

individualized education, enjoyed many athletic teams, nurtured my

musicality while my stepsister was guided the wrong way

unrealistically, in the same semi-private/public school system, all

within the same 6 years time frame. Not every teacher or counselor or

administrator does a great job, however there are teachers out there,

who bust their butt day after day with no support from the

government, TRYING to give our children the best possible education

and experience while they are in their classroom. Often times, the

parents themselves, as has been said before, do not follow up by

reading to their children and encouraging READING over video games

etc. Not all education happens at home, and not all education

happens at school.

, You're absolutely correct. It is never black & white, nor cut

and dry!

Pardon my soap box, I just get upset when I see blanket statements

about school systems and homeschooling, as I have been raised in a

long line of passionate educators that truly believe in their work

and their children. Just my 0.02.

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your contribution to the

educational system . There certainly are many hugely gifted and

caring educators here.

As for special education, you have to keep

on top of the child’s progress and not just assume or trust what you are

being told. “He is doing fine,” is not good enough.

Always find out if he/she is at grade level, and if not why not. It’s

a shame your step sister was misled. I think the school should have encouraged

her to go to the local community college first and work with the disability

program there to achieve as close to her goal as she could. There are

many jobs in the healthcare field these days, just because you can’t be a

nurse doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for you somewhere. I

hope she is happy in whatever she is doing now.

Janet

From: health [mailto:health ] On Behalf Of Anne

Sent: Saturday, February 03, 2007

10:29 AM

health

Subject:

Re: Alyssa's Drama - now school systems

I apologize if this is off topic, please delete it if

so or offensive

as it is not my intent. <SNIP>