Robin Garwood & Marcy Holmes write: �Did separate but equal begin to work recently without someone letting me know?�
Ladies, I object. No where and at no time have I stated anything of the sort, and I don�t think that intimating that my suggestion is somehow driven by racist motives furthers your argument (in my estimation). Clearly, children who have developmental, mental or physical limitations require services that the general population does not. I state that separate facilities would allow for the efficient delivery of those services; a statement which inherently suggests differences in form and function. Indeed, your further argument succinctly illustrates the major concern that virtually any social service provider depending on public financing is sure to bring to the fray: �Don�t mess with our funding sources�. That issue cannot be countenanced if we are really concerned about our kids, disabled or not. Certainly there would be more competition for funding, that is the whole point! But I would think that an organization that has been in business as long as Accessability would welcome the opportunity to distinguish itself from it�s lesser competition. We simply must begin to demand that the State and the school district�s excersize their fiduciary responsibilities and be able to demonstrate to the publics satisfaction that we are getting what we are paying for. If they show half the alacrity for fiscal responsibility that they have for excess levy referendums we just might see some progress. Further, to hold your point valid, one must presuppose that our fellow citizens would rush to abandon our neighbors struggling with disabilities. I don�t believe that is true. �And what will the effects of such an outcome be on the disadvantaged kids we're all concerned about? Condensing "disadvantaged kids" gives a wonderful opportunity for a district to excuse low student achievement in the special schools concerned, and raise the graduation rates and test scores in the other, "normal" schools.� Well I for one fully expect that the gap in a child�s achievement to be commensurate with the gap in a child�s ability to learn, no more no less. But I take your point, again, as a reinforcement of my suggestion. Today, when test scores are released, administrators of poorly performing schools routinely use the numbers of disadvantaged kids they serve as an excuse for their failure to serve their student population as a whole. I am of the opinion that the disadvantaged will thrive in an environment especially tailored to their needs, and that removing the pressure of caring for and educating them from the public system at large will be a benefit to their able bodied peers as well. The basis of my arguement is solid, and cannot be refuted by fact..the costs of "Special Education" as practised today, have become untenable and have not produced any appreciable positive results for our kids. Regards Thomas Swift Saint Paul [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! GeoCities - quick and easy web site hosting, just $8.95/month. http://geocities.yahoo.com/ps/info1 _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
