Comments on: Discussion Paper: ‘Inclusive, Special Education’

By: Y-Gurl

Y-Gurl — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 11:04:35 +0000

Oh come on, Brangman IS the child that was left behind! if we are to get serious about the education of our children (and so far only the teachers are) we need to replace these ill placed political and board people with EDUCATORS who have graduated , are educated and understand the system and can offer proper solutions to the problem, when you reflect on the fact the private schools turn out for the most part good students and they have little or no dealings with the red tape and polital posturing in comparison to our public system which when you go above the actual school level is a complete shambles offering useless solutions, bad speeches and salaries that equal the most educated and productive people in our society.

By: Impressed

Impressed — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 10:43:55 +0000

This paper was not written by a “consultant” but was produced by the Policy Analyst at the Department of Education. It has come after years and years of students moving through a school system that has ignored their needs and left them floundering with inadequate support and few skills with which to make it through life. The Ministry was forced to respond on the recommendations of the Ombudsman who had investigated numerous complaints from agonized parents.

Kudos to the Department and Minister Brangman for bringing forth this document. I pray that this issue of Inclusion and Special Education is taken seriously by the community and the Government and that it is acted on expeditiously. It is criminal to continue this abandonment of our children and their futures. Let’s take action NOW!

By: Unjrust Realities

Unjrust Realities — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 19:27:41 +0000

@ Duane Santucci . . .you have many valid points, however I beg to differ when it comes to your statements about the UK versus the US. No Child Left Behind has nothing at all to do with curriculum, but is an administrative policy that primarily focuses on failing school districts and what they must do by federal law to raise the achievement of all children. Albeit a lofty aspiration from its inception, the general concept held school districts accountable for not providing means for children in primarily poor and/or inner city areas who are performing statistically far below as compared to their average/wealthy counterparts.

I totally agree that children with disabilities, cognitively as well as social emotionally have been overlooked in our system. However, please do not refer to them as “DUMB”, that is an insult within itself.

By: Duane P Santucci

Duane P Santucci — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 14:21:45 +0000

Though your passion is in the right place, I do believe your comments are not. There are many parents out here that are witnessing their children failing miserably in a system that is not serving all children.

I do believe that the present administration is trying to head in the right direction,but this is not an easy task considering the damage that has already been done.we still have children being pushed through the system but are dumb as hell and don’t even have basic learning to lean on.

It is sad to see children in middle school with a primary level IQ and that is unacceptable,for to long we have not dealt with the special needs of education,this is for completely normal children with learning disabilities in academics.

Bermuda for to many years has implemented curriculum that has failed in most jurisdictions that have tried them,but we continually think we can make something work that others failed in,we need to take our sorry proud,arrogant oxes back to to the British curriculum that worked.

We have over the last 14 years done everything to cut ties with the U.k but have to recognize that they have parts of their curriculum that actually work and we are not using it.there are parts of the American curriculum that includes no child left behind,that sounds good but is not working.so we truly need to strike a balance that will see more successes and less failures.

So if the present administration have directives that may be tied to the former administration,that may work. Sop the dam wining and nit picking and get on with saving our youth.

By: little sound

little sound — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 12:48:13 +0000

New OBA Govt. following PLP consultants down the road to nowhere. This is a complete waste of time. Does nothing about addressing complete lack of accountability in Bermuda Public Education System. Minister Brangman & Premier Cannonier just been duped by PLP supporters running Dept. & Min. of Education because these byes egos are bigger than their brains. If only they would start listening to those who really know what needs to be done. Start with Andre Agassi