Why many parents and teachers fear the special education initiative will fail our children
The DOE earlier released a power point to reporters and the PEP that showed NO significant gain in either achievement or attendance for students with disabilities in Phase I of the program.
And despite the bland assurances of DOE’s Shael Suransky at the hearings that schools will be provided with any additional funding they need to make inclusion work-- and Laura Rodriguez, head of the special education office, admitting that many of these students need small classes to be successful, the sternly worded directive to principals mandates that they must accommodate children with special needs in inclusion classes up to
Why Paul Robeson Would Have Walked out of Paul Robeson High School on May 1st
We ask for nothing that is not right, and herein lies the great power of our demand. -Paul Robeson
I stand in the hallway of the school building, my back leaning against a wall and legs crossed. The halls are brightly lit and eerily quiet. Across from me is a typical school fire alarm, with a message hastily taped up next to it: IF YOU PULL THIS ALARM YOU WILL BE ARRESTED.
Another day at Robeson.
Sue and Lizzy are seniors at Robeson, which they affectionately call "Robe" (rhymes with Moby). They are outgoing and well-versed, both leaders in their school. Lizzy even served on the Mayor's Panel for Educational Policy as a non-voting student representative. She sat on this panel when they voted to shut down her school, and gave an impassioned plea to thousands of parents, teachers and advocates. In short, she's level-headed but
