well, i for one can not speak to inclusion, but, the federal/state standards
obviouly stink. i ask a graduating high school senior and her junior friend
to tell me "what is 1/2 minus 1/4?" the junior guessed 3/8 . the graduating
senior just said that she did not have a idea. i do not know that i'd want
to be included in that kind of "education".

-----Original Message-----
From: Cleveland, Kyle E. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2001 3:33 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Formal Education - Inclusion


Let's get real here...when State and Federal matching funds are involved,
individual classroom teachers have the least amount
of say in curriculum, discipline or any other facet of public education.
You make my argument for me by stating, "Federal gov't and state boards of
education set standards".  If those "standards" aren't met, the schools lose
funding that can't be rebuilt through the local tax base, right?  So if the
local school system doesn't play by the government's rules, then they lose
funding.  In other words, the bureaucrats own the ball and they can take it
and go home whenever they don't like the way the game's played.

As far as inclusion is concerned, maybe my wife, Laura, will speak to this.
She's had a goodly amount of experience with "inclusion", being a special ed
teacher since the 80's.  What say you, dear?
-----Original Message-----
From: Lee McElhenney [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2001 3:14 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Formal Education - Inclusion


Kyle,
Quite the contrary.  Federal gov't and state boards of education set
standards, its up to the local school districts, and ultimately the
classroom teachers to carry out mandates, meet standards, and create a
nurturing environment where education can take place.  Part of this
education is to learn the 3 R's, and another part is to teach and model what
it means to be a responsible, compassionate, understanding, and cooperative
part of our society.  Federal law says that the states must provide free,
appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.
Appropriate and least restrictive are the key terms here.  The state sets
the boundaries, and the local school board works with-in them, leaving it up
to special educators, general educators, parents, and other professionals to
determine the appropriate and least restrictive placement of a student.  If
a problem arises, its up to the school district to fix it, not the federal
government or state board of education.


>Yeah, Laura has to carry teacher's "malpractice" insurance, of all things.
>Can you believe that crap?  Ah, well,  Western "democracies" are no better
>than totalitarian governments--they only have one tool to fix all problems:
>a hammer.  Public Education "worked" for the masses when decisions were
>made
>at the local level.  Now State Boards of Education and the Feds have to
>micro-manage every thing that happens in the classroom.  Not every social
>ill can be fixed by a social "program".
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Barber, Kenneth L. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2001 6:28 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Formal Education - Inclusion
>
>
>the way things are today, i'd hate to be a teacher.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Bobby Greer [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: Monday, March 26, 2001 5:55 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Formal Education - Inclusion
>
>
>Lee,
>
>     Iam 63 and went I 1st went to school there were no special ed.
>classes.
>My first grade teacher(Mrs. Burke, I stilll remember her name) hugged me
>every day. Did it make me feel good? You bet it did. Did it affect me? I am
>finishing a 33 year career as a teacher. We need more Mrs. Burke's, but
>sadly, today she might be accused of sexual exploitation, or worse!
>
>Bobby
>
>
>
>In a message dated 3/26/01 10:04:11 PM, [log in to unmask] writes:
>
><< Is there anything you (a person with c.p.) would have liked your
>teachers
>to know, to be more sensitive to, or is there anything you would like to
>say
>to schools in general that could have made your time in school more
>beneficial?  What do you think about, or do you want to comment on the
>growing movement toward inclusion of ALL students into the general ed.
>classroom?  Or you could just make comments or statements regarding c.p.
>and
>school at any  >>

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