THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 9, 1995 TAG: 9510060016
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
Regarding ``Four secrets of successful schools'' (Focus, Sept. 25): The fact that in America most students with disabilities are still taught in separate classrooms, separate school wings or separate buildings negates the blame Albert Shanker tries to place on them for the behavior problems in the regular classrooms (i.e., we are told that we must allow one child to destroy the education of 30 others because of social adjustment; or that separating these students would persecute them for having a disability beyond their control).
Ending this form of segregation condoned by Mr. Shanker is not being done by politicians concerned with fads or radical reforms, as he states, but by the involved, caring, responsible parents seeking an end to the violations of their children's civil rights.
Nor do children with disabilities receive preferential treatment when they violate school ``codes of conduct,'' except when their disability requires additional support to aid the student in adherence to the rules.
Although the ``successful'' school systems from other countries were not identified, many other countries have school schedules of six days a week, eight to 10 hours a day. Will Mr. Shanker's union members embrace a similar work schedule to bring us to the same level?
As for Mr. Shanker's disdain for social values in schools, we should remember that before World War II, Germany had higher standards of academics and discipline than any other nation. Its curriculum lacked ``social engineering.'' By omitting values such as humanity and compassion, its academic excellence almost destroyed our world.
The real secret to making our schools and students successful in today's world is to realize that all children can learn, to value children regardless of their differences, to find ways to reach and teach children and to stop letting children fall though the cracks.
CHERYL WARD
Virginia Beach, Sept. 27, 1995 by CNB