Very sad, but very, very true.

Bobby

Elizabeth H. Thiers wrote:

> Well, they never said it had to be a good education.
>
> Beth the OT
>
> email address: [log in to unmask]
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Barber, Kenneth L.
> Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2001 3:40 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Formal Education - Inclusion
>
> 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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