As we head into the throes of a politically volatile election year, I ask that you each carefully consider the world you would like to see for the foreseeable future.
I have many concerns, as do we all. As a retired speech-language pathologist, I view the issues through a human-caring lens. All issues follow that perspective — all issues. How are you doing economically, medically, educationally, spiritually?
One of the issues that concerns me greatly is education. Are our public schools perfect? Of course not, yet that great American experiment has fostered greatness. For me specifically, having spent 20 years professionally either in public education or supporting students with differences in that diverse environment, I know how critical special education support can be.
In 1975, Public Law 94-142 was enacted to protect children with learning differences, growing out of the recognition that segregation needed to be addressed beyond race and religion in education. (Visit Wrightslaw.com for comprehensive history.)
In my career, I experienced countless child and family situations that would have sidelined amazing individuals without this protection and support. You see, an IEP (Individual Education Plan) provides understanding and a path to optimizing individual needs and potential.
An IEP levels the playing field, much like eye glasses or hearing aids create optimal learning. Without that protection, so many children would be educationally devastated, equally impacting family systems. I treated a stutterer who the principal suggested that we should just put a fourth-grader in prison because his difficulty communicating resulted in aggressive classroom behavior. (He is now a father, mechanic and amazing man.) Or the family with three children with Aspergers, sidelined because of social difficulties and difficulty with sensory processing. All three are now in college, aspiring to become an astrophysicist, ob/gyn physician and an educator. I could go on and on, but you get the idea. All of these children blossomed with the proper support.
The point of this is education is set to change dramatically if a conservative administration and goals of Project 2025 come to fruition. The Department of Education would be dismantled and be administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. The National Center for Education Statistics would become part of the Census Bureau (which is proposed to change the way we gather census data). Federal enforcement of civil rights in schools would be significantly curtailed, with infractions designated to the Department of Justice to be solved only through litigation. (www.edweek.org/policy-politics/what-would-happen-to-k-12-in-a-2nd-trump-term-a-detailed-policy-agenda-offers-clues/2024/03).
I respect all perspectives and preferences. Diversity challenges all of us, but results in improvement overall. Our entire system is clearly in need of some TLC. Please, as you go to the ballot box, do your research related to issues important to your life.
Consider the ramifications of dramatic change that is waiting in the background if the election goes one way versus another.