Guest guest Posted July 30, 2004 Report Share Posted July 30, 2004 I've been getting a few emails asking my position on voucher options. Here is a great question and my response that someone wrote to me: " It appears as something that will result in segregation by location - school districts that provide good special ed will receive all kinds of students, and schools that do not do it well will empty. This ends up with all kids in special ed ending up in one or a few districts, and frankly, provides incentive for a school district to do it poorly. " > I also want an appropriate education for my two children with special > needs, if, let's say, my district or yours is not providing appropriate services. > Is it my fault or yours that our children's needs are not being meet? No -- > it is certainly not. Should I as a parent or you stand back and let our > children's education slip thru their hands because, basically, we have no other > choices for our children? Not me. I've heard of other families actually moving > to (as they may perceive it) so-called " better districts " to obtain quality > services. Is that any different? I just refuse to do that -- why should I have > And please, if I hear one more time about our IEP process which is also > most of the time. How many parents have been denied the > simplest of services or not told the truth during an IEP by the very same people > that teach our children everyday (this is absolutely appalling). I think > every one of use has experienced this type of behavior -- is this acceptable? It > is not to me. If we had choices this type of inexcusable behavior would be > minimized-- I guarantee it. Accountability, Accountability, Accountability > No, I disagree. I think in the long haul it would create more accountability toward > appropriate services by our local districts for ALL our children, not just > special needs students. There really is no reason why ANY district is running > poorly at all -- not in today's standard. If it is, the administration > should be looked at very closely, just like any other business. Truly our schools > are a business and is funded by our tax dollars -- shouldn't we have a > Our country is founded on the principals of democracy and free enterprise -- why > should the schools be exempt from this. Because, " they " are the only game > in town and " us parents " really do not have a choice in our children's > An analogy: If pizza palace-A makes better pizza's then pizza palace-B: Yes, > people will want to eat at pizza palace-A. Why shouldn't they-- I > would. It is called competition, free enterprise and setting high standards. Why > do we expect or accept any lower standards for our own children? Why? because > we have no other choices or options for our children. Again, it starts at > the administration level of our local districts and ISDs. So, if pizza palace-B > sees that nobody is coming in for pizza anymore: what do they do about that > -- they start creating a better product; more toppings; thicker crust; > cheaper prices. Plain and simply. Since we are tax payers and our disabled children > are a part of the community (as all children) then all citizens start > questioning why pizza palace-B is not at the same standard as pizza palace-A. Then > it would be Pizza Hutz's responsibility (state government agencies) to step > in and make sure that pizza palace-B is operating effectively. If not, then > Pizza Hutz can be replaced by Qominos (new elected officials). Pizza Hutz wants > to keep on top of the pizza business so they make sure that pizza palace-B > gives Listen, please pardon my example of the pizza palace > If the citizens had more choices concerning our school boards and > our schools. Yes, I guarantee that we would see bigger and better > opportunities for all children, most especially ours. > > I would like to respond to the comment of " segregation " sometimes I think > that terminology is grossly over used -- sorry. I do not feel that my son who > is currently in a private school is at all " segregated. " In fact, he has more > opportunities in his private setting than he would have had in his local > district. My question is: Why is it that there is so many charter schools opening > up? Why, because people want choices. Why is there so many parochial schools > out there? Again, people want choice. Why should parents of disabled > children be any different? If there are better opportunities out there for our > children, why can't we have them. > Is the voucher approach good for every single family and all students needs -- perhaps not? However, the current system really needs to be looked at very seriously and major changes need to be put in place. Nonetheless, I would like a choice in my children's education, period. And it would be nice if we had more options available to all families, if they choose to utilize it or not. I'm not at all an expert on this issue, just a frustrated, feed-up parent that wants someone to step-up and be accountable for our children. I know there are many wonderful teachers out there and I have heard from a few already. I'm sure most teachers would like to do more for the kids -- however, cannot. It is a shame. Remember this: A fish becomes rotten from the head-on-down. As crass as it is -- it has merit folks. Accountability, Accountability. Sandy McMurray <A HREF= " http://www.specialedvoucher.com/ " >http://www.specialedvoucher.com</A> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 30, 2004 Report Share Posted July 30, 2004 I've been getting a few emails asking my position on voucher options. Here is a great question and my response that someone wrote to me: " It appears as something that will result in segregation by location - school districts that provide good special ed will receive all kinds of students, and schools that do not do it well will empty. This ends up with all kids in special ed ending up in one or a few districts, and frankly, provides incentive for a school district to do it poorly. " > I also want an appropriate education for my two children with special > needs, if, let's say, my district or yours is not providing appropriate services. > Is it my fault or yours that our children's needs are not being meet? No -- > it is certainly not. Should I as a parent or you stand back and let our > children's education slip thru their hands because, basically, we have no other > choices for our children? Not me. I've heard of other families actually moving > to (as they may perceive it) so-called " better districts " to obtain quality > services. Is that any different? I just refuse to do that -- why should I have > And please, if I hear one more time about our IEP process which is also > most of the time. How many parents have been denied the > simplest of services or not told the truth during an IEP by the very same people > that teach our children everyday (this is absolutely appalling). I think > every one of use has experienced this type of behavior -- is this acceptable? It > is not to me. If we had choices this type of inexcusable behavior would be > minimized-- I guarantee it. Accountability, Accountability, Accountability > No, I disagree. I think in the long haul it would create more accountability toward > appropriate services by our local districts for ALL our children, not just > special needs students. There really is no reason why ANY district is running > poorly at all -- not in today's standard. If it is, the administration > should be looked at very closely, just like any other business. Truly our schools > are a business and is funded by our tax dollars -- shouldn't we have a > Our country is founded on the principals of democracy and free enterprise -- why > should the schools be exempt from this. Because, " they " are the only game > in town and " us parents " really do not have a choice in our children's > An analogy: If pizza palace-A makes better pizza's then pizza palace-B: Yes, > people will want to eat at pizza palace-A. Why shouldn't they-- I > would. It is called competition, free enterprise and setting high standards. Why > do we expect or accept any lower standards for our own children? Why? because > we have no other choices or options for our children. Again, it starts at > the administration level of our local districts and ISDs. So, if pizza palace-B > sees that nobody is coming in for pizza anymore: what do they do about that > -- they start creating a better product; more toppings; thicker crust; > cheaper prices. Plain and simply. Since we are tax payers and our disabled children > are a part of the community (as all children) then all citizens start > questioning why pizza palace-B is not at the same standard as pizza palace-A. Then > it would be Pizza Hutz's responsibility (state government agencies) to step > in and make sure that pizza palace-B is operating effectively. If not, then > Pizza Hutz can be replaced by Qominos (new elected officials). Pizza Hutz wants > to keep on top of the pizza business so they make sure that pizza palace-B > gives Listen, please pardon my example of the pizza palace > If the citizens had more choices concerning our school boards and > our schools. Yes, I guarantee that we would see bigger and better > opportunities for all children, most especially ours. > > I would like to respond to the comment of " segregation " sometimes I think > that terminology is grossly over used -- sorry. I do not feel that my son who > is currently in a private school is at all " segregated. " In fact, he has more > opportunities in his private setting than he would have had in his local > district. My question is: Why is it that there is so many charter schools opening > up? Why, because people want choices. Why is there so many parochial schools > out there? Again, people want choice. Why should parents of disabled > children be any different? If there are better opportunities out there for our > children, why can't we have them. > Is the voucher approach good for every single family and all students needs -- perhaps not? However, the current system really needs to be looked at very seriously and major changes need to be put in place. Nonetheless, I would like a choice in my children's education, period. And it would be nice if we had more options available to all families, if they choose to utilize it or not. I'm not at all an expert on this issue, just a frustrated, feed-up parent that wants someone to step-up and be accountable for our children. I know there are many wonderful teachers out there and I have heard from a few already. I'm sure most teachers would like to do more for the kids -- however, cannot. It is a shame. Remember this: A fish becomes rotten from the head-on-down. As crass as it is -- it has merit folks. Accountability, Accountability. Sandy McMurray <A HREF= " http://www.specialedvoucher.com/ " >http://www.specialedvoucher.com</A> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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