Article in the Gwinnett Daily

[Guest guest]

I read the orginal article in the Gwinnett Daily Post and was surprised at

the whole article. As Gwinnett school system is considered the BEST public

education in all of Georgia I was shocked at their attitude in the article

toward special ed. It basically said you had to have legal help in many

cases to get what you wanted if you didn't agree with their IEP's. I live

just across the county border but have my daughter in a school in Gwinnett.

This upcoming school year I will be homeschooling her so I know for a fact

she will get the learning I feel necessary. (I am currently a teacher at a

private Gwinnett school so know I can do this)

As some of you may recall Gwinnett is also where they refused to move the

6th grader's class out of a trailer that lacked a ramp so he could attend

with his class.

Thanks for keeping the rest of the public aware of the special education

problems in Gwinnett. Maybe with a nationwide public outcry against J.

Alvin Wilkbanks he will be removed from office.

Hannah, mom to LeAnne and ... NE Atlanta

______

>Message: 7

> Date: Thu, 2 May 2002 23:38:55 EDT

> From: sav425@...

>Subject: thought we had it bad

>

>New York Times

>Associated Press Newswire

>Birmingham News

>ACLU

>

>GEORGIA'S DISABLED COMMUNITY CALLS FOR REVOCATION OF APPOINTMENT

>

> Sunday, 28 April 2002, the Gwinnett Daily Post, Gwinnett

>County, GA quoted Superintendent, J. Alvin Wilbanks, saying, " " Special

>education is the albatross around the neck of public education, "

>Wilbanks said. " I have no problem with special education law. If we

>didn't have it, we probably wouldn't serve (the students) properly.

>But I have no time for people with their own agenda with no regard for

>cost incurred in educating their children. " "

> Mr. Wilbanks offered no apology for his remark, but a Gwinnett

>County Spokeswoman offered the excuse that Mr. Wilbanks' remark was

>being " taken out of context " . Thinking Americans should ask

>themselves, " In what context would Superintendent Wilbanks' comment be

>appropriate? "

> President Bush has appointed J. Alvin Wilbanks to the special

>committee responsible for " No Child Left Behind " regulations. With

>his callous attitude towards students with disabilities, I do not feel

>Mr. Wilbanks can appropriately or fairly look out for the interests of

>minority children, whether they are disabled, disadvantaged, in a

>minority group or are English Speakers of Other Languages. The very

>children targeted by the " No Child Left Behind " Act will suffer most

>if Mr. Wilbanks serves on the " No Child Left Behind " committee.

> Gwinnett County is embroiled in controversy this week as

>Dyer, a long time Gwinnett County resident with disabled children,

>banded with parents who have fought for special education services in

>Gwinnett and called for the resignation of J. Alvin Wilbanks at an

>April 30, 2002 School Board Meeting. Gwinnett County Public Schools

>has the worst reputation among special education attorneys and

>advocates in the Atlanta metro area for providing appropriate services

>to disabled students. The attitude of Mr. Wilbanks filters down. In

>my opinion, the last thing this nation needs is Mr. Wilbanks in charge

>of drafting any legislation or regulations that are designed to serve

>the disabled.

> I urge all Americans who believe NO child SHOULD be left

>behind to contact President Bush at president@... and

>request the removal of Mr. Wilbanks from the " No Child Left Behind "

>committee. If no one acts, disabled children nationwide will suffer

>the consequences of legislation that considers them as " albatrosses " .

>

>Editorial Opinion by

>S. L. Cook, Resident, Gwinnett County, GA,

>Parent of 9 year-old with high IQ and learning disability

>

>

>Mike Savory