Re: Open Letter

[Scott Hays <shays@ccwebster.net>]

On Nov 24, 2006, at 3:23 AM, burke5054@aol.com wrote:

>  I look at these issues involving students with special needs this  
> way.

Well, at least there is a breakthrough, of sorts, on Art's part.  He  
recognizes, in the first place, that possibly children with severe  
disabilities are not best served by NCLB (though he quickly points  
out that the severity in question is rare, so not too many kids are  
impacted).  He also admits -- for the first time, ever, I think --  
that "sanctions" are a part of NCLB (though he quickly points out  
that NCLB also mandates that schools provide "intensive and sustained  
support" when they are "in need of improvement" -- though, once  
again, he fails to identify from where states are to find the  
resources to provide that "intensive and sustained support").

He fails to mention whether he read the letter printed in Jay  
Matthews' "Extra Credit" column, yesterday ("Using the Wrong  
Standards for Students With Disabilities", http:// 
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/22/ 
AR2006112201193.html), which stumped even Mr. Matthews with its broad  
description of disservice to special needs' students wrought by NCLB  
and attention to testing.  I encourage him to do while his sympathies  
are so clearly feeling a twinge of understanding.

I would, simultaneously, point out the obvious fact that all people  
everywhere are not by any means proficient.  Academic proficiency is  
just one skill area in which human beings are not 100% proficient ...  
never have been, never will be ... and yet have managed to survive  
for a pretty long time without being so.  Those who are not  
academically proficient may compensate with proficiency in some area,  
and find they can still contribute to those around them without  
untold misery or suffering imparted on anyone.  To seek 100% academic  
proficiency may be a noble goal, but one must be realistic in the  
setting of goals and recognize that some (probably many) will come up  
short.  To "sanction" one who comes up short is therefore amongst the  
worst types of cynicism imaginable.  Instead, one measures progress  
individually and recognizes that we all take different size steps at  
different times in our lives, and work to help each individual child  
learn to walk when he or she is ready ... not at some arbitrarily  
determined time or in some arbitrarily proscribed manner.

Scott Hays
shays@ccwebster.net

"Wrinkles only go where the smiles have been."
- - Jimmy Buffett