Re: High standards - no?!

["Art Burke" <aburke@vansd.org>]

Special Ed is there because parents wanted it and convinced lawmakers
that their children need it.  LAP and "Chapter" are there because
lawmakers (state and federal) believe that economically disadvantaged
children need additional resources.  

Art


In a message dated 1/13/03 10:37:11 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
alan.young@dmps.k12.ia.us writes:

> We do not give people F's on blood tests or other criteria and
instruments 
> that doctors assess. 

Ah, but the Special Ed label, because of the tests, is just as real as
an F 
on a blood test.  We are labeling children because they don't fit into
a 
high-standard mold-- whether we are simply labeling them for LAP and
Chapter 
services or with a call for an IEP when one should not be needed.  

I have been fighting this state down garbage and warping of goal since
the 
beginning.  A lot of us have not been sheep, but have been questioning
every 
step of the way-- to no avail.  I guess that's why we've come to this--
to 
communicating with like-minds around the country.  And this may be our

salvation.  The internet shall set us free.  They can't tell us it's
working 
in other places.  It isn't.  And I guess that's why I'm writing books
and 
running for state superintendent.  Some of us need to break through the

jargon and the BRT junk education stimulus packages and get us back to

parent/teacher/student power over destiny.  And no, that doesn't mean 
privatization, Art Burke.  

I was reading three columns by the state superintendent of Nebraska
last 
night, on the Nebraska Ed Dept website.  Great stuff there.  And he
seems to 
have a handle on the disappearance of childhood.  I was reading along 
watching for the "new and better skills for the 21st century" rhetoric,
but 
it never came!  Aha, there is sanity in the upper levels of education 
somewhere!  He talked about our changing society, but recognized that 
children need the same things that they always have-- basics, plus.  I
don't 
even think he said algebra for all!  How about that?

I'm moving to Nebraska.  That's near Iowa, isn't it?  Hey, and Wall
Drug is 
on the way there!
Juanita