Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella songs are flipping through my head as I ponder the re-authorization of NCLB, or the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and more specifically music and the arts. In my own little corner in my own little world I can be whatever I want to be. On the wings of my fancy […]
Outsourcing: Privatizing the Heart of Special Education
It is difficult to find proof that handing over the heart of special education to non-profit and for-profit companies improves services for students with special needs. It’s unclear whether it saves money either. But school privatization involving special education appears to be on the rise. First, district administrators complain there is little district funding and […]
Two Sides of Hillary Clinton: The American Federation of Teachers’ Big Blunder
Where was the debate? Did we miss it? Why was the AFT rapid endorsement of Hillary Clinton such a rash mistake? Hillary Clinton has two sides when it comes to education, and the AFT should have taken more time to haggle with her—nudge her into showing her good side. But they didn’t do due diligence […]
Denied Special Education Services: Parents Push Back for Students
The outrage concerning diminishing services in special education has recently surfaced in in three different places—Chicago, Fairfield, CT, and the State of Alabama. There are interesting similarities, and these places are certainly not alone when it comes to special education cuts. NOTE: If you would like to share what is happening to special education where […]
Should School Leaders have Professional Teaching Experience?
Leading means inspiring, not commanding. Leading means loving the people you lead so they will give you their hearts as well as their minds. It means communicating a vision of where you can go together and inviting them to join. Major General John Stanford, Superintendent of Seattle Schools, 1995–1998 A school leader who has never […]
Senator Bernie Sanders and K-12 Education: We’re Listening!
Bernie fever is sweeping the Internet. I like Sen. Sanders. He says a lot of things that make me want to jump up and shout YES! You Go Bernie! But I, like many others, am still listening for the specifics when it comes to education and public schools. On the issue of K-12 education he […]
U.S. DOE Continues to Force Test Failure on Children with Special Needs and ELL Students
According to information given to me by Deborah Abramson Brooks Wsm, the U.S. Dept. of Education is insisting that the New York Board of Education continue to force all students with disabilities, except for those with the severest disabilities, to take the tests matching their chronological age, not their developmental age, ignoring their cognitive disabilities. […]
States Lacking Mental Health Services for Kids–And Some Glimmers of Hope
Marcie Lipsitt is a special education activist for children in Michigan, and she sent out a report about the serious loss of services there for children with mental health problems. It’s entitled, “In crisis, mentally ill children forced to wait days or weeks for hospital beds,” and includes the plight of a parent who has […]
Using African Americans to Condemn Special Education: The Mixed-Up Message
For a long time special educators and the general public have heard that special education is racist. The story from the school reformers goes something like this: African American students are thrown into segregated special education classes because teachers don’t know how to teach, or they don’t have “high expectations.” If teachers request a special […]
Summertime and the Living is Easy—But Not for Many Children
Waiting in line at the grocery store, I notice magazine covers. The summer issues use lovely summery words. Simply Living has “The Most Relaxing Summer.” Southern Living—“The Soul of Summer” and “The Perfect Lazy Lunch.” Ah but the joy of kicking back in the good old summertime! But thus far, most of what I have […]