In case you dont get The Daily Gazette, below is a letter to the editor by SFT Pres Juliet Benaquisto that appeared Sunday... The Gazette’s Oct. 31 coverage of the federal Office of Civil Rights’ [OCR] compliance review in the Schenectady City School District left part of the story untold. Negative and sensationalized stories sell better. Referring students to special education is an effort to secure additional support, not an attempt to send our students to the dungeon, as the Gazette’s Nov. 1 cartoon distastefully implied. Decisions to provide special education services are not made solely by teachers. They are discussed with and approved by administration. Many conversations around efforts to improve student outcomes occur before a referral for special education services is made. I am proud to represent 900-plus teachers who care deeply for and give so much of themselves to all students in the Schenectady school district. Contrary to what some believe, we are not simply white, middle-class educators who don’t understand the cultural differences of our student population. We are a compilation of educators with many years of experience, dedication and an understanding of our students’ poverty and diversity. As such, I’m confident our teachers will continue to reflect on practices with the goal of providing equitable and effective instruction.
Posted on: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 00:49:47 +0000
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