General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Obama needs to call Arne Duncan out for his new tactics for special education students. [View all]lumberjack_jeff
(33,224 posts)The key is to make those demands developmentally appropriate.
I see nothing in the proposals which create high stakes consequences for students on an IEP to achieve some arbitrary level of performance, only a plan to track their progress.
It's no more cruel to teach a child with a disability how to tie their laces than it is a neurotypical child. It's just harder.
Schools would take a greater interest in Special Education classrooms if the principal and superintendent's job performance was judged by the academic progress and success demonstrated by the special education students.
I find this thread distressing and reinforces a stereotype I have of special education; the primary goal is to make the students comfortable, not to turn them into contributing adults.