Comments for The Life That Chose Me

Comment on IEP Academic Goals: A Remnant of an Older Age? by Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 07:07:18 +0000

I too am a special Ed teacher.. I have been arguing this point for years. Thank you for your post.

Comment on You need to learn more about autism so you don’t judge me! by Polish translators

Polish translators — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 18:45:14 +0000

One must be fair to anybody, not only to autistic people. I expect the same from anybody, even the autistic people. Fair enough?

Comment on You need to learn more about autism so you don’t judge me! by Storm Dweller

Storm Dweller — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 22:09:55 +0000

My daughter has tried the “I can’t because I’m Autistic…” and “You don’t understand Autism…” tacks with me. I’m glad she recognizes it’s a part of her, but I do not let her get away with using it as a crutch, and I remind her that even the experts on Autism don’t fully understand it, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have to do what she’s told. A child/person with Autism or any other disability/disorder is still a child/person first. Which means that we all have our unique challenges to overcome, and those challenges are not a get out of jail free card for our choices

Comment on The Truth About charter Schools: Teachers by Storm Dweller

Storm Dweller — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 20:54:11 +0000

I would think the more educational options available, the better chance students will have being paired with a curriculum and staff that meets their needs, particularly for those children with learning or other disabilities. I’m glad we have school of choice here. It’s still public schools, but we have a variety of curriculums, locations, and staff to choose from. It makes it hectic when you have more than one child at different schools, but I am far more comfortable knowing they have been paired with teachers and behavioral/academic expectations that challenge them, but also meet their needs. I believe we also have a couple of charter schools, and at least one Montessori that I know of. It has always bothered me that we as a nation take a cookie cuter approach to education all with the justification of tax dollars.

Comment on The Truth About Charter Schools: Funding and Local Control by gretchen

gretchen — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 01:37:57 +0000

I currently work in a charter school that is new. I have done GAA before, but this is the first time my school will be turning in portfolios. It is a little frightening to me because there is no system of “checks and balances” for me. I am the only one who knows what I am supposed to do. I have nobody to check my work. Did you have this problem in the charter school system as well?
Thanks,
Gretchen

Comment on Myths About Charter Schools by The Truth About Charter Schools: Funding and Local Control « The Life That Chose Me

Sun, 28 Oct 2012 01:22:32 +0000

[...] is important and that public education is critical to the future of our community, nation and state. I linked in an earlier article to Condolezza Rice talking about education as a national security issue and the civil rights issue [...]

Comment on The Truth About Charter Schools: The Students by Dr. Fred Young

Dr. Fred Young — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 00:41:37 +0000

I like the word “refugee,” to describe the students who go to Charter Schools. Sometimes traditional schools are a battlefield (literally) and more often, they are a battlefield in that there is a constant fight to get your kids educated. Teachers’ unions, inflexible administrators, poor mentoring, both for teachers and students; the list goes on and on. Public schools may have their place, but there has to be an escape.

Comment on Myths About Charter Schools by Daniel Dage

Daniel Dage — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 03:59:41 +0000

K12 is probably the largest charter school in the country, and they DO have stockholders on Wall Street. The assertion is that these schools can not possibly be as good as the other public schools because they are filled with nothing but corporate shills. I beg to differ. IS k12 right for all students? No. Are traditional schools right for all students? Think carefully as you answer this, because in too many places that IS the only choice. As for why we need another system, read my latest (Sept. 14th) blog entry where I try to answer just that.

Comment on Myths About Charter Schools by birddroppings

birddroppings — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 00:55:21 +0000

Obviously you are not a unicorn and I am aware that in some counties all students attend charter schools. In our county the charter school had provisions for that throuigh testing eliminated students for progressing through courses and or eliminnated entirely. I do know behavior can be written into requirements. You make the comment that charters have to meet all state and federal laws yet why can they have then an application process. My concern is why do we need a second system of schools. This concept takes away from local input other than parents. Having worked with parents for over forty years most honestly do not know what is best for their kids. Schools for profit run as a business do not make for serving kids but shareholders in business.

Comment on Myths About Charter Schools by Daniel Dage

Daniel Dage — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 00:14:29 +0000

Thank you for commenting! I’m not sure what to say except that your comment puts me, a special education teacher in a charter school, in the awkward position of being categorized the same as a unicorn. As much as I like unicorns and Santa Clause, rest assured that charter schools do, indeed, serve individuals with disabilities. Yes, special education teachers do exist in charter schools all around the sate. It is part of their charter that they have to abide by the same state and federal laws. That includes the provisions of NCLB. All of them, including testing and Hi-Q teachers. My advice is to talk to parents, students and teachers in the charter systems in your area to get a feel for the truth. Don’t believe everything you read about them, especially when it comes from those who are threatened and fearful of them. Don’t be ruled by fear. Arm yourself with the facts and promote truth.