"Garwood, Robin" wrote: > Did separate but equal begin to work recently without > someone letting me know? Grouping learners in different facilities based on > ability is necessarily divisive. The same friendly, polite parental > advocacy for funds to be dedicated to one's own child we've seen on this > list will become full-fledged competition in the electoral process between > the interests of upper- and lower-level learners. I don't believe this form > of competition will be healthy or constructive. Given the strong > correlation between income and academic achievement, and the parallel link > between income and political clout, which group do you suppose will come out > on top in such a funding fight? And what will the effects of such an > outcome be on the disadvantaged kids we're all concerned about?
I don't think that anyone is suggesting that we separate special-needs students to their disadvantage. The suggestion is that they might be better served when situated in environments tailored to their needs. Nor do I believe that we should lump all special-needs children into an undifferentiated mass. I see no need of moving a paraplegic student out of regular classes, unless it was into a special gym class. I can see placing a dyslexic student in a special reading class. There is also no reason to isolate special-needs children in segregated schools, but it might be more cost effective to designate a subset of regular schools that would provide special services. By the way, separate-but-equal is recognized under the law for physical differences...it's called Title IX. > And really. Is there nothing a special needs student can > teach an above-average student? Do homogenous schools create well-balanced, > tolerant people? Sure homogenous schools create well-balanced tolerant people, what makes you think that they don't? Are we to think all Swedes are intolerant racists? Michael Atherton Prospect Park _______________________________________ 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
