I'm with you. As the parent of a child with severe ADHD, I cannot even describe the difficulties we have, DESPITE the discipline we impose in our home, (regardless of what many of the posters here today think). Some days I don't know how we're going to make it through school. Frankly, I knew I shouldn't have even clicked on this thread. I knew what I was going to read. I used to be one of those people who thought it didn't even exist and that it was basically a discipline problem or a way for teachers to maintain control of little boys. But when you have a 3 year old who can't even concentrate long enough to learn his colors no matter how many times you go over it, you realize that there's a problem.
I think what we have is a huge continuum of -- kids who have real problems (I know some personally) to kids who are wiggley and the teachers overreact.
This SCOTUS ruling, however, I think is wonderful. That taxpayers should have to fund each and every special ed anything is beyond what's reasonable. There is tremendous graft and corruption in the schools today (I am a teacher) and way too much money given away and spent irresponsibly on 'special' this and 'extra-curricular' that.
In my district, someone SUED because they dared to rent instruments for $40 a year!! HellO.
I know you probably have great difficulties, and are probably trying to do an admirable job. While I can sympathize, or maybe even empathize, with you, why do you think that your problems should be solved with my money?
But when you have a 3 year old who can't even concentrate long enough to learn his colors no matter how many times you go over it, you realize that there's a problem.
I don't doubt at all that there probably is a problem, and probably a serious one and that you are frustrated and at your wits ends sometimes. I am sure a lot of people have felt like that about many things at many times during their lives. But again, why is it that everyone else must be subjected to your problem and pay for your problem?
Not every child who has ADHD is an "undisciplined little monster".
Obviously not. However, whatever the cause- ADHD or whatever- it is not the rest of the class, school or society who should be penalized or who should have to pay for that problem. Taking away resources from "normal" ones and allocating them to the few "problem" ones is theft of those resources by the problem ones. Sorry, there just isn't any other way to call it.
I know, you will attack me as being cold hearted and uncaring, which is far from the truth. I do care, I just don't feel that everyone else's money/time/education opportunity should be taken from them to "fix" your or your kid's problem. Or my or my kid's problems.
The school should offer equal opportunity for an education. Those who cannot, will not, or do not take advantage of that offered opportunity should reap the consequences of their actions. Read again- equal opportunity, not "special education" or "individualized education program (IEP) suitable to the child's special needs". Why should all the other unafflicted children be punished by your or any other child being given a specially tailored curriculum only because they can't handle the equal opportunity education that is being provided. Nowhere in the Constitution does it call for everyone "to be made equal", but only to be provided an "equal opportunity". If anyone can't or won't take that equal opportunity, for whatever reason, then all of the ones who do try to take it and progress should not be penalized in favor of those who can't/won't take it. You should be provided the opportunity to vote, but if you don't take advantage of it, nobody should be required to drive to your house, pick you up, take you to the polls, sit you down and help you fill out your ballot, then take you home again... no matter how much the Democraps would like to do that for you.
You have the equal opportunity/right to vote. If you don't take it, that's your problem, not everyone else's.
Frankly, I knew I shouldn't have even clicked on this thread. I knew what I was going to read.
I'm very sorry if you take offense to this type of "personal responsibility" doctrine. I'm not denigrating you or your child, just trying to point out that no matter how badly your or some other child is afflicted by some type of disability, it is not everyone else's responsibility to under duress pay for it, plan for it or handle it.
And then we have the "Oh, poor me, I/my child am/is disabled" whine. So what? I was krappy in Algebra, while there were kids who whizzed right through it. So should the school have provided me with a special ed Algebra class and tutor so I could be as good as all the whiz kids? No! My tough luck. I sqeaked through. But there were things that I excelled in when others didn't. Should I have been penalized and them given "special" considerations just because I was more genetically inclined in the subject than they were? Again, NO! I sailed through, they barely made it. That's the way life is. Everybody ain't the same given an equal opportunity.
I know, you'll whine that you or your child is "speshul" and should be given "speshul" consideration. Wrong! Equal Opportunity being offered, disparate abilities taking [or not] advantage of it.
Before you go off name calling and claiming that I don't know what it's like, let me point out that I've been half deaf since grade school. They thought I was stupid. Wasn't until high school that they gave me a hearing test and found out I couldn't hear most of what was being said- however my lip reading ability was through the roof... all without any formal training or "special" education.
OK, now why should a special school curriculum be made up just for me, or special arrangements be made because one student in the class (me) couldn't hear well? They shouldn't. Fortunately, this was before all the socialist/PC krap and they just told me to sit in the front of the class and ask questions if I didn't understand something.
Sure, they could have spent big money to make all kinds of special adjustments for little ol' me, but that wouldn't be fair to everyone else. They (other students) didn't get any "special adjustments". The one thing they did do was "offer" me some counseling with the district speech and hearing counselor/teacher. He went around to all the schools in the district and I was given the "equal opportunity" to take advantage of an hour a week with him when he made the rounds to my school. I took advantage of it. But no "special" needs curriculum was ever even brought up and to this day, I don't think that most - if any- of my teachers were advised of my "disability". At least, none of them ever indicated with any special consideration to me that I know of.
I've also been on the teaching end of things. I would help someone who didn't quite grasp the subject as best I could, but if they didn't want to or couldn't learn, sorry- I wouldn't take away from all the rest who did want to and could learn. Yes, they had my sympathy- even empathy- as I had been that "stupid deaf kid", but the "equal opportunity" shouldn't be stolen from those who wanted it and would take advantage of it by those who either couldn't or wouldn't.
OK, I'll put on my flame proof drawers and let you or anyone else go at it, but taking resources away from those who would use and gain by them for someone who cannot or will not is still theft... no matter what kind of rose colored, socialist/leftist eyeglasses you look through.