Comments on: Things Thought But Seldom Expressed

By: Maureen

Maureen — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:56:14 +0000

I began my career as a school speech therapist in 1975, the very year my state began implementing what was then known as P.L. 94-142. We know it now as I.D.E.A. That really was the first time federal law provided a free, appropriate education, in the least restrictive environment, to the truly disabled; approximately 1-3% of all U.S. children: the blind, deaf, mentally retarded & severely physically disabled. It was a few years before parents of Learning Disabled children sued the Feds to have that classification added to the “mandate.” Now, more than 80% of all children, nation-wide, served by IDEA are LD. By definition, these are students who have no other primary disability, but simply can not read. I have worked in a large urban, school district for 15 years. Almost without exception, my students are LD or another classification that can obscure the fact that our schools have failed to engage them. They do, however, almost all get speech-language therapy, for which every district in my state bills Medicaid. Too many “age out” at 18 or 21 still with miserable or non-functional literacy skills. Nevertheless, as irritating as NCLB can be, at least now all my special ed. students receive real literacy instruction [before they did not] and get tested along with every other student in the district. Districts in my region still try their best to ship the severely disabled 1-3% somewhere else so when the NCLB testing happens, those students’ scores won’t “drag down” the aggregated data. But it IS better now, than back in the early 1970’s, for those students for which IDEA was truly designed.

By: Robert Pondiscio

Robert Pondiscio — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:59:12 +0000

I’m not sure what you’re taking issue with here, Laurie. The point (at least my point) is not whether every child can learn given the right intervention, setting and instruction. Rather too much special ed infrastructure seems designed to evade accountability — and lawsuits — not work for the child’s benefit.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:28:05 +0000

wow. When I read the blogs here I wonder what did the teachers of these children do differently to ensure success, how where the teachers and admnistration held accountable for success? Instead of identifying academic difficulties and providing research based interventions, assessing and adjusting interventions for each students, teachers fail and students are placed. These failures then become the drain of the finances and the burden on the classroom teachers who can’t teach the normal kids. All students can learn given the right instruction. Ours is the only country that provides the education democraticaly. All students are provided an education. This is not the case in other countries of the world.

What really angers me is that the above posted are views of educators. It may be time to find new professions. If these were the thoughts going through my child’s teacher’s head, I would pull my kid and run.

I thought the stereo typing of special ed students as a waste of time had been laid to rest. Unfortunately it is being promulgated and sadly by educators. Every Child can learn and deserves to learn and if you don’t believe this or can only teach the “normal” kids then get out of education–PLEASE!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:25:56 +0000

A “free and appropriate public education,” where, when push comes to shove, the meaning of “appropriate” is determined by the courts is Federal law. As far as I can tell it is the (unfunded) mandate that trumps all other mandates.

We are a rich and compassionate society, but currently Federal law mandates the compassion, without asking taxpayers to put the $$ behind it.

By: Bill P.

Bill P. — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:11:52 +0000

This is beyond common. In many schools it is the norm, and it isn’t even necessarily limited to students with IEPs. In my 5th grade general ed class this fall, 70% of the students have already been held over. 3 students twice! Thus, they will be receiving all sorts of resource room and equivalent type services. Plenty to “justify” all the out of classroom positions in my school. I’ll be lucky if I have 1 period a day with a complete class.

By: OrangeMath

OrangeMath — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:59:39 +0000

Since Special Ed consumes 20 – 25% of district funds and is heavily mandated, this is expected. We are a rich and compassionate society. This is all wonderful. Also, Special Ed supports lawsuits. One mistake on a form, a delay in testing by a day, a misplacement, a harsh word can mean millions. Keeping parents happy is vital. We are all wonderful in doing our jobs. Learning? Well, it ain’t about learning.