Comments on: Do special needs kids come second in OUSD?

By: John

John — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 01:03:47 +0000

Thank you Katy.

I reviewed it but will withhold comment in the interest of “not wanting to reopen old wounds,”
and risk forsaking the hard won affections of my now good friend.

By: John

John — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 09:46:30 +0000

T (Rex?) You don’t have to dare me to teach a special education class for one week, I taught special education classes for 27 years!

What I say isn’t popular or PC, it’s just true.

And thanks for pointing out some sp ed student exceptions to the norm. It’s obviously the most pointed arrow in your quiver of pointless facts.

Yet come to think of it, one of history’s greatest classical music composers was deaf – so I guess deaf folk have a future in the music industry. What impeccable logic!

And thanks for taking the time to “waste your time” responding to my post. I’m sure Jim Carrey and Charles Schwabb feel vindicated by your astute observation. I sure do!

By: Sue

Sue — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:45:12 +0000

Thank you, Katy.

I was actually a little bit relieved when it didn’t work, though. Not wanting to reopen old wounds.

By: Katy Murphy

Katy Murphy — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:14:21 +0000

Sue and John – The link to the story (from last October) that Sue referenced earlier works now:

http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/ci_7311289

By: T

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:24:56 +0000

Whoa… I am burning…John, you are obviously a buffoon. I dare you to spend one week teaching any special education class. Most special ed classes are truly underfunded and the children are often short-changed, getting the least of everything. Also to refer to special needs children as the dumbest kids is offensive. Did you know that there are gifted special education students with behavioral needs that cannot be addressed in a general education setting? Many successful people were in special education classes including Jim Carrey and Charles Schwabb. A lot of time they end up in classrooms were they don’t belong. I have seen it several times in my short teaching career. Ignorant people like yourself push special education students, parents, teachers, and advocates to the back of the bus for sure. I cannot even go there with you because I don’t want to waste my time.

By: Sue

Sue — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:57:32 +0000

Sorry, John. There was a link in the blog item that used to give the Tribune story.

Basically, the student ended up in a private school – after the district settled the family’s lawsuit with amazing speed.

By: Marie Wenster

Marie Wenster — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 03:09:54 +0000

Although we were unsuccessful in stopping the relocation, we want to thank you for writing our story and bringing out onto a bigger stage.

By: John

John — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 07:27:53 +0000

Sue, the content of your reference makes no mention (in response to my question) of circumstances & events pertaining to your disclosure that the district “forced out one of our (advocate) families” However, If you’re unable to elaborate I do understand.

By: Sherry

Sherry — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:29:07 +0000

This comment is for Catherine.
We at Redwood Heights do not have or never have had automatic doors. Where did you see the buttons for the door openers? If these buttons and doors do not exist, how can they then be repaired?

By: mary

mary — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:35:06 +0000

To HIlls Neighborhood Parent. I suggest you go to your local school and ask how many students actually live in the neighborhood. With the district open enrollment policies you may be surprised. Special education students have as much right to be at a hill school as a child of a parent who is using a friends address, is a sibling of an older student who was enrolled at a time when the numbers were low or whose neighborhood school has not met expectations. The real losers here are the general education students who will no longer have an opportunity to interact with a disabled student. What a loss for their education.