In response to various posts about this issue (separate schools for children with special needs) - this is a very complex issue for many reasons, but I would like to address one key issue here: who are the kids with special needs? About 20% of any school poulation is made up of "children with special needs;" schools in high income areas often have more children with special needs then schools in low income areas (indeed, it is very common in high income areas for parents to sue the school district so that their child will be labeled with a special need, so that they can receive services that the parent deems necessary). Issues of poverty, race, and language (just to name a few) complicate the issue. And, many children with special needs also have special gifts (e.g. a child who is challenged in math may be a gifted writer, a child who is challenged behavorially may be very creative, etc. etc); for children who have profound special needs (e.g. in need of 24 hour medical care) we already have separate programs. Mary Jamin Maguire Marshall Terrace
_______________________________________ 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
