From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
Whatever your child’s academic achievement, he’s unlikely to get a quality college education unless you have limitless buckets of $100 bills. Why? Like public schools, public community colleges and universities are financially starving. Soaring tuition cannot compensate for decades of moribund state funding. This will hurt your child and add to America’s soaring poverty. As Tamar Lewin wrote in the New York Times: Read more...
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From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
The Press of Atlantic City headlined, in bold font, “State task force says teachers aren’t doing enough to identify kids who can’t read.” The article blamed lower grade teachers for failing to identify children with reading problems and for failing to use the right methods to teach reading. (To me, the not so subtle, unscientific subtext was to keep banging the ideological drum to purchase and use the Wilson method and its commercial materials to teach reading.) Below is the comment I submitted. Read more...
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From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
For children with reading and other learning disabilities to succeed in school, they need quality schools that create and nurture legitimate opportunities for all children to excel. In thinking about whether we, as a nation, are really trying to achieve this, consider the quotes below. Ask yourself: Without major, sustained efforts to rid the U.S. of poverty and violence, to provide quality health care to all children, and to develop the talents of all children, can we really prepare the majority of children with disabilities to lead productive and satisfying lives? If we don’t help their peers without disabilities, how can we help them? Is inclusion likely to succeed in underfunded schools with lots of hungry, highly stressed children? Are we really trying? Or is “reform” talk just a way to corner votes, $$$, and power? Read more...
Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, economics, education budgets, educational policy, inclusion, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Parenting, politics, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading problem, reading problems, struggling reader, Struggling Readers
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
Unless you have plenty of money to send your child to top-tier private schools, his educational future is in immediate danger. Budget cuts, budget cuts, budget cuts. Shorter school weeks, fewer services, overloaded and depressed teachers. In his business column, Joe Nocera explained why: Unemployment.
What are the latest unemployment figures? Some 25 million people — more than 16 percent of the work force — are looking for full-time work. Companies are hoarding cash while reporting record profits. Read more...
budget cuts, Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Parenting, political action, politics, public education, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading problem, reading problems, struggling reader, Struggling Readers, unemployment
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
Florida House Approves Ending Tenure for New Teachers
By LIZETTE ALVAREZ
House Republicans used their supermajority to handily approve legislation that will dramatically change the way teachers in Florida are hired, fired and rewarded.
U.S. Is Urged to Raise Teachers’ Status
By SAM DILLON
An international education study says the United States must improve the way it recruits, trains and pays teachers. Read more...
Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, education politics, Florida, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, politicians, politics, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading problem, reading problems, struggling reader, Struggling Readers, teacher tenure, teachers, tenure
In a previous post we argued that it’s “A Tough Time For Children And Adults With Disabilities.” Politicians are cutting critical services, using budget shortfalls as the excuse, when in many cases the underlying motivation is encased in political philosophy, opportunism, and the belief that people with disabilities and their families won’t or can’t effectively challenge the cuts. We recommended several action steps.
Action Steps
We suggested that people who care about children, youth, and adults with disabilities, any kind, should: Read more...
Advocacy, advocate, advocates, Developmental Disabilities, disabilities, disability, disability policy, Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, mental retardation, Parenting, policy, politics, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading problems, retardation
If you want extra reading and other learning disabilities services for your child, services adequate to help him overcome his disabilities and perhaps get through college or get a job that pays adequately and offers good health insurance that won’t be canceled if he gets sick, I strongly encourage you to become politically active. Simply depending on current special education laws and funding won’t work. From the phone calls I get and the newspaper stories I read, the federal special education laws are often ineffective, the schools often incapable of helping, and society often unwilling to help children with disabilities once they leave school. Read more...
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