A Good IDEA

IDEA- in a nutshell, federal legislation designed to ensure that students with developmental, orthopedic, or sensory disabilities have equal access to public education. It’s right. It’s the law.

I’m not saying it’s not complicated. As both an educator and a parent of a child with developmental disabilities, I assure you that I get it. It can be very, very difficult to deliver everything to every child. We are asked to educate each child appropriately, in their own “least-restrictive environment.” For some students, that means leaving the special-ed classrooms of the past, the so-called “self-contained” rooms, and joining their same-age peers. For some it means the exact opposite. That is, the stimulation, motoric and cognitive demands, and social challenges of the regular classroom CREATE restrictions to achievement, and this child requires a more controlled environment.

Teachers who were veterans at the time the law was passed suddenly faced demands for which they had received no training. No budgetary support was provided. The worst stories include regular classroom teachers abruptly taking on diapering duties. This nightmarish implementation phase has largely passed, thankfully. It is common now to have support staff in place. Training has been on-going, special educators are more skillful at designing specific programming, and school boards and administration at both district and building levels are more seasoned at negotiation.

Still, there are inequities. Still, there are resource shortfalls and bald ignorance. Still, there are parents who make unrealistic demands. And still, there are bigots.

Take, for example, the large-boned teacher of creative endeavors at a nearby public school. This individual has several noteworthy skills, not the least of which is application of unnatural hair color. As I’m sure my readers have observed, this edgy look is the universal sign of the “artiste,” and I want you to know that I have been appropriately alert to the advertisement.

However, the actual JOB of this person requires EDUCATING CHILDREN. This person’s artistic talent may have merit. But in my experience, true art is created by embracing the PROCESS more than the PRODUCT.

And in my experience as an educator, (which I am assuming is equal to or greater than this person’s) content knowledge and skills are not as important as classroom management, knowledge of learners, child development and pedagogy. (I am of course assuming that those with teaching licenses have at least passed a test that ensures a baseline grasp of the content.) In other words, true teaching is accomplished by embracing the LEARNER more than the LESSON.

Perhaps tomorrow I’ll tell you more of the emotional story. But I’ll give you a teaser now. I’m going to win.