Blog

  Remember that 2003 song by the Black Eyed Peas, “Where is the love?” … “What’s wrong with the world, mama?”   Well, in our schools these days, we’re wondering “Where is the trust” and what’s wrong with our schools?   In special education, parents and schools distrust each other—in fact, that is how the law contemplated their relationship. Now, more than 35 years later, we need to fix that. Unions and school districts often don’t trust each other.  Teachers [...]

Dear friends and colleagues,   Still shopping? Here’s an idea!   If you need some creative, practical, and fun little gifts for friends or relatives who are educators, school administrators,  parents (or grandparents) of students with disabilities, or anyone interested in school reform—particularly of special education—or even for yourself—here they are!   How about getting some little flipbooks of law! And, until December 22—the shipping is on us! NO [...]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/opinion/sunday/friedman-how-about-better-parents.html?_r=1 Finally, I’m beginning to detect a ‘movement.’ An honest view of what we need in schools besides good teachers. Here’s Thomas Friedman’s op-ed in the matter. We need good parents. While this discussion may be late to the party, it’s good that we are finally here. Good parents, apparently, read to their children and talk with their children about school and encourage their children in their school [...]

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/school_law/2011/11/judge_posner_on_school_law_and.html

...and developing broader solutions for social issues.... Certainly, in special education, this would be a welcome new path!  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/28/opinion/moving-beyond-civil-rights.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&src=rechp

Check out my commentary at http://toped.svefoundation.org. Hopefully, it will be a discussion starter in our work to improve education for all students.http://toped.svefoundation.org/2011/10/13/the-seven-broken-premises-of-special-education-in-california/. 

  It's amazing how personal his death is to so many of us around the world. Really amazing.   I never met him but I'm one of millions who loves his story and his inventions and feels the loss. I also loved seeing his house in Palo Alto that I walked past several times. It's not too big---looks like a French country home with lots of olive trees around it, as I recall. Back to inventions.... I finally broke down and bought an iPhone and love to text my kids and get photos! [...]