It’s hard to know where to start with this editorial by
Governor Bush.
First, and most importantly, Kaleigh’s choice was not one of
an on-line academy or no school. She is
protected both by the federal special ed. law, as well as the Americans With Disabilities Act. Her school district
was required to provide services for her.
My hope is that this on-line learning was coordinated by the
school district, so she had access to support systems (i.e. tutors, guidance
counselors etc.) While I was teaching I
often worked with students who could not physically attend school. I visited them, we used tutors, and we
e-mailed. I visited kids at home, in hospitals, and once in prison. Sometimes we became very
close.
The online learning is a nice addition, but surely Governor
Bush is not suggesting that high school kids, esp. those with serious medical
problems, are better off taking on-line courses by themselves, with no help,
from some private, out-of-state for-profit academy than they are staying within
the umbrella of their local schools, where they can get a full range of
services.
I am not against students having choice, but I don’t like
how this editorial makes it sound like her local school district was simply
walking away from her, and this private academy came galloping to the
rescue. I’ve taught for too long, in too
many schools, to believe it happened like that.
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