tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63024952051687938072024-02-20T03:06:40.170-08:00Miriam's School Law and ReformAttorney, special education law expert, author, and reformer Miriam Kurtzig Freedman has spoken and consulted in 45 states.
She's working toward 50!Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.comBlogger195125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302495205168793807.post-29087801600992448212010-10-02T08:23:00.001-07:002010-10-02T08:24:16.580-07:00Another overreach by schools? The 'no-touch' policies<a href=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11458137>(Interesting article from Great Britain on the matter)</a>. <br /><br />I've thought about this a lot, also. Another interesting read for a Saturday!Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302495205168793807.post-64070883338086419342010-10-02T08:20:00.000-07:002010-10-02T08:22:26.583-07:00Bullying and suicides... a complex situation...<a href=http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/experts_suggest_bullying_isnt_only_culprit_in_youth_suicides_104194304.html>(bullying not only cause of suicides, experts warn)</a><br /><br />I've thought about this issue--as more states pass anti-bullying law. An important read.Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302495205168793807.post-59246285684161785392010-09-28T05:44:00.000-07:002010-09-28T05:48:26.327-07:00Schools for other people's children...<a href=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/27/AR2010092701766_2.html?sid=ST2010092701898.>(President Obama on his choice of schools for his daughters)</a>.<br /><br />Our president gave an honest answer. We understand that. But as long as people can walk away from the public schools, they will continue to be for other people's children. I wrote an essay many years ago that the only way to fix our public schools is to CLOSE all the private schools! Nutty? I don't think so. By doing that, we would force all players to the same table and I do believe that improvements would come fast. Very fast. In fact, it's really the only way.Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302495205168793807.post-78308324887157250282010-09-24T04:36:00.001-07:002010-09-24T04:40:34.472-07:00The responsibility deficit.... Thanks Philip K. Howard!<a href=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/opinion/24brooks.html?_r=1&hp>(The Responsibility Deficit)</a>.<br /><br />It's great to see our friend, Philip K. Howard, featured in David Brooks' column. Of course, he's right. Teachers need the freedom to teach and students need to know that it is their responsibility to learn.<br /><br />It's always amazing to me that when we make comparisons of student achievement with other countries (Finland, comes to mind) we ignore the student, parent, and teacher responsibility parts. There are key. Yet, not on the table usually. <br /><br />Instead we focus on systems and more rules and more requirements, taking us further and further away from what works: responsibility by key players. Thank you again, Philip, and thank you David Brooks for recognizing his important work!Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302495205168793807.post-23903825578636495222010-09-22T12:51:00.000-07:002010-09-22T13:00:09.842-07:00Should we rethink inclusion? See joannejacobs.com discussion<a href=http://www.joannejacobs.com/2010/09/has-special-ed-inclusion-backfired/>(Should we rethink inclusion??</a><br /><br />Yes, it's time to rethink inclusion. Inclusion grew out of the civil rights model. (student have a right to be in regular classrooms) not out of the education model (what works for students!). So sad. Instead, our schools should be driven by research or education-based practices--not legal mandates or concepts cooked up by legislators and judges.<br /><br />It is, indeed, time to rethink inclusion so we can do what actually works for kids in schools.Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302495205168793807.post-56971593870330124242010-09-17T06:00:00.000-07:002010-09-17T06:03:05.196-07:00Mother was right...'C'est le ton qui fait la musique."My mother always told me, "It's the tone that makes the music." Can that be the message from Washington D.C.'s vote? That it was a rejection of style, approach, tone--even as the schools were improving? Can it be that mother was right--again.<br /><br /><a href=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcschools/2010/09/rhee_election_result_devastati.html.>(Children are the losers in D.C. vote)</a>Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302495205168793807.post-78763766036902295982010-09-16T03:08:00.000-07:002010-09-22T12:53:20.188-07:00Education Update features Fixing Special Education!<a href=http://www.educationupdate.com/archives/2010/SEP/assets/EdUpdate_sep10.pdf>( Discussion with Michael Best, NYC General Counsel and Jean Johnson of Public Agenda)</a><br /><br /><a href=http://www.educationupdate.com/archives/2010/SEP/html/speced-fixing.html>(Fixing Special Education.)</a>.<br /><br />The book is available on Amazon.com, through <a href=schoollawpro.com>(School Law Pro)</a>, and at <a href=http://www.parkplacepubs.com/online-store/view/fixing-special-education-12-steps-to-transform-a-broken-system>(Fixing book)</a><br /><br />Check it out! Your thoughts and comments?<br /><br />We are into the 35th anniversary of this law. Time to celebrate and reform!Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302495205168793807.post-63802577189471783792010-09-15T06:11:00.000-07:002010-09-15T06:16:18.018-07:00Thomas Friedman--"We're Number 11!" Scary!<a href=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/opinion/12friedman.html>(Thomas Friedman echoes Robert Samuelson's call for motivated and hardworking students)</a><br /><br /><br />Finally, Thomas Friedman of the <strong></strong>New York Times<strong></strong> and Robert Samuelson of <strong></strong>Newsweek<strong></strong> tell us the truth: too many of our students are not motivated to work hard. After all the money spent on 'education reform,' we have little to show for it because (so far) we have been unwilling to look in the right places--what students bring from home and what students do in school. <br /><br />Let's hope these thought leaders get that conversation going.Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302495205168793807.post-54826047271242149682010-09-12T13:16:00.000-07:002010-09-12T14:59:57.588-07:00Barnard College... Alumnae books includes FIXING!<a href=http://alum.barnard.edu/s/1133/index2.aspx?sid=1133&gid=1&pgid=252&cid=1681&ecid=1681&ciid=3685&crid=0>(<strong>Fixing Special Education</strong> listed among Barnard College Alumnae books)</a>Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302495205168793807.post-66566394213197542782010-09-09T06:40:00.000-07:002010-09-10T03:51:30.916-07:00Education Week reports number of SLD students is down.<a href=http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2010/09/08/03speced_ep.h30.html?tkn=LXRFuJWjGYeiwcJGKWwBajlgQHHSuOGXd5t0&cmp=clp-edweek>(Number of students with specific learning disability is down)</a>.<br /><br />Is this good news? Is it news? What does it mean? We all need to stay tuned.<br /><br />But, for the moment, it looks like GOOD news for those of us who believe that too many students were labeled with SLD and who believe that good teaching in the early grades through good old fashioned GOOD TEACHING practices (now called RTI--response to intervention) will keep numbers down.<br /><br />A story to keep watching!Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302495205168793807.post-89224778581084339552010-09-07T05:47:00.000-07:002010-09-07T05:50:05.719-07:00"Learning style"--is it real?-- in New York Times<a href=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/07/health/views/07mind.html?_r=2&ref=education>(Learning style and other theories of learning debunked)</a>.<br />We've known that brain research and 'common knowledge' don't often match. So here we go again. In my book, <strong>Fixing Special Education</strong>, I wrote about the fact that so much of special education is built upon questionable (or no) research. It's a tragedy for students, schools and our country. <br />Maybe this <br /><strong></strong>New York Times<strong></strong> article will help. Let us hope!Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302495205168793807.post-37563972390241291132010-09-07T04:16:00.000-07:002010-09-07T04:26:51.402-07:00School reforms' meager results. See 2nd reason!<a href=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/05/AR2010090502817.html?referrer=emailarticle>(Two reasons for school reform failure)</a><br /><br />A gutsy piece. Common sense tells us that education is a two-way street. Educate is an active verb. It is something one does. It does not happen passively. The teacher should work hard AND THE STUDENT SHOULD WORK HARD. <br /><br />Yet, defying common sense, education reform efforts have focused only on the first person--not the second! If students don't learn, the teachers must be doing something wrong! Hello... does that make sense to anyone? NOT ME. Such reforms have not worked and, they will not. So says this gutsy piece by Robert J. Samuelson in the <strong></strong>Washington Post. <strong></strong> <br /><br />He cites the (usually uncited and unspoken) reason--students are not motivated to work hard. Thank you, Mr. Samuelson, for telling a truth. In my experience, most teachers are good enough. BUT, they cannot educate students alone. Education is an ACTIVE verb. Teachers need active participation by students (and I would say, parents). Our reforms have been looking in the wrong place.Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302495205168793807.post-77281195796077699092010-09-06T07:47:00.000-07:002010-09-06T07:50:14.889-07:00Back to school magic...It’s that time of year—the annual, magical beginning of school. Every year, teachers, students, and parents get to start anew. New beginnings. Clean slates. A world of possibilities Dreams. It’s magic!<br /><br />I left teaching to practice law more than 35 years ago. Yet, that end-of-summer beginning-of-school magic is still powerful in me. There’s nothing like it in the practice of law. Instead of an annual fresh start and clean slates, when we return from vacation, ‘stuff’ is piled high on our desks. Our emails are clogged. We are on a treadmill yet again. Life did not stop. It carried on while we were basking in the sun. We are now in catch-up mode... wondering if taking that time off was worth the reentry pain.<br /><br />But, I digress. In schools, this is a magic time. I wish you a happy year of success and achievement in 2010-2011 and thank you for your important work.Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302495205168793807.post-55453188544705928762010-09-04T08:00:00.000-07:002010-09-04T08:01:52.768-07:00Top books? Here are the results thus far...<a href= http://www.educationnews.org/ednews_today/99640.html>(Voting for top books of the last 10 years)</a>. Diane Ravitch is up by far!Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302495205168793807.post-42298155495060571282010-09-02T04:55:00.001-07:002010-09-02T04:58:02.671-07:00Top education books of the decade!<strong>Education Next.org</strong> has a fascinating contest--vote for the book you believe to be most influential. I did. <br /><br />And I added the comment that Carol Dweck's book, <strong>MINDSET</strong>, should have been on that list. It influenced me the most-- what teachers and parents can do (and should stop doing) to help students learn, succeed, and thrive. Check that out too--the book and the comment!<br /><br />What book would you add?<br /><br /><a href=http://educationnext.org/ed-next-poll-top-books-of-the-decade/>(Top books of the decade)</a>Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302495205168793807.post-7471145391827708882010-08-31T06:05:00.000-07:002010-08-31T06:09:09.246-07:00If only they would get a good night sleep!<a href=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/daniel-willingham/how-can-parents-help-teachers.html>(What teachers want from parents)</a>.<br /><br />It's amazing, isn't it. What teachers want most from parents. Get their kids to bed at night for a good night's sleep. Interestingly, this comment also found itself in my book, <strong>Fixing Special Education</strong>, where I quote a principal of a successful California school: "If I could only get the moms to put their children to bed early."Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302495205168793807.post-89952403608179216102010-08-16T15:22:00.000-07:002010-08-16T15:24:37.019-07:00John Merrow's new book, BELOW C LEVEL<a href=http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/8/16/5949/10797ood>(A review of John Merrow's new book)</a>.<br /><br />A good read. What's wrong with education and how to fix it. I am quoted in the book--which is always nice!Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302495205168793807.post-54900170947351953162010-08-08T18:16:00.000-07:002010-08-08T18:18:46.825-07:00No more "D's!"<a href=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/08/education/08grades.html?_r=1&ref=education>(New Jersey district bans D's--Students can earn A's, B's, C's, and F's)</a>. <br /><br />Very creative. I agree with the rationale.... students shouldn't pass with D's and just slide through. Let's hope this creative approach works to increase hard work, effort, and learning!Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302495205168793807.post-42071485461905086412010-08-03T06:42:00.000-07:002010-08-03T06:44:31.321-07:00Very sobering...<a href=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/01/education/01schools.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss>(New York City test scores go from 81% pass to 18% pass)</a>.<br /><br />Sobering. Defining standards down is dangerous for America. We need to link this story with Mr. Caperton's above and get sober fast.Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302495205168793807.post-58699863367101245522010-08-03T06:34:00.000-07:002010-08-03T06:40:27.904-07:00Sobering, but...<a href=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gaston-caperton/addressing-americas-growi_b_667185.html>(US losing its #1 spot in college graduates)</a><br />The head of the College Board sounds the alarm. <br /><br />We must ask if our public education policies make sense. Many don't. Is college readiness the right goal for every student? And if so, how can we graduate high school students who don't have basic arithmetic skills? <br /><br />Yesterday I spoke with a lovely and dedicated woman who is a math tutor for college students at a community college. Her story is sobering. Her young students people 'graduated' from high school but do NOT have basic elementary arithmetic skills. Adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing. Many of them grew up on calculators with teachers who thought that was OK.<br /><br />We must ask if our public education policies make sense. Many don't.<br /><br />So, the Huffington story is sobering--bMiriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302495205168793807.post-4433000721264720442010-08-02T07:34:00.000-07:002010-08-02T07:38:14.434-07:00And say it ain't so... again on RTTT<a href=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/diane-ravitch/obamas-race-to-the-top-wi_b_666598.html>(Diane Ravitch on Race To The Top and evaluating teachers)</a>.<br /><br />In all of these moves to evaluate students and teachers on the basis of testing, we assume that the tests are valid and the results reliable. This is a major assumption that needs to be explored. Fast. <br /><br />My experience with testing students with disabilities and the use of accommodations and modifications concerns me greatly--as the use is often inconsistent and the validity of test results is assumed. Again, we need to explore this assumption. Fast.Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302495205168793807.post-30161669741201313572010-08-02T07:28:00.000-07:002010-08-02T07:31:06.552-07:00Say it ain't so.... the Common Core standards<a href=http://www.educationnews.org/commentaries/97110.html>(A back story of Massachusetts and the Common Core standards)</a><br /><br />An amazing story of the politics behind the vote in Massachusetts to end its high standards and go with the Common Core.... Say it ain't so. <br /><br />And how do we follow the money on this development?Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302495205168793807.post-42706557827506306132010-07-27T04:14:00.000-07:002010-07-27T04:39:20.634-07:00Creativity--Whither American creativity? Awesome. Po Bronson strikes again!<a href=http://www.newsweek.com/2010/07/10/the-creativity-crisis.html>(Creativity not taught in America)</a><br /><br />Research indicates that creativity is on the decline in American children. Now what do we do? First, read this fascinating cover story in <strong></strong>Newsweek<strong></strong> by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman. <br /><br />Neuroscience research plays a key role in our understanding of creativity.<br /><br />next? It turns out that creativity needs to be nourished. Yet, in our schools now, it is largely not. We should act on this reality, teaching facts AND creativity--both are needed. <br /><br />And, for starters, turn off the TVs and all those hand held electronic toys. We suspected they were bad for kids' creativity. Well, they are. And, let the kids play outside!Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302495205168793807.post-10489147745504354802010-07-25T09:36:00.000-07:002010-07-25T09:41:54.202-07:00Inclusion, inclusion...for what purpose?<a href=http://www.denverpost.com/ci_15596395>(Boulder's efforts for inclusion)</a><br /><br />As I read this article, I am concerned about the purpose of the move to more inclusion. What is that purpose? Let's be very clear! It is to improve learning outcomes for ALL students in the schools--regular and special education, gifted and average, 'at risk' and all others.<br /><br />I echo and strongly support the folks who focus the purpose of inclusion on improving teaching and learning for ALL students. I am very concerned about those who focus on inclusion as a 'civil right.' Instead, inclusion should be based on research and best practices--for what works, not just for having all sorts of learners in classrooms together, but on improving outcomes for all of them. That is not a matter of 'right,' it's a matter of pedagogy and research on what works.<br /><br />Let us all keep our eye on the prize: better outcomes for all students.Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302495205168793807.post-41988763068260828752010-07-25T09:21:00.000-07:002010-07-25T10:13:00.911-07:00It's' my story and I'm sticking with it!Thinking a bit more about that College Board report (Friday's blog)..... <br /><br />When I came to America in 4th grade, unfortunately, it became time to slide by in my schooling. Yes, I had to learn English. And I did that. But, the substance of our learning so much easier than what I was used to... <br /><br />Consider. In Holland, we had learned the multiplication tables up to 20! In our heads! No calculators. No aids. 18 x 17. 13 x 16. Etc. And it was fun! <br /><br />In the public school in New Jersey, where I started my American education, students were struggling to learn the multiplication tables up to 10. 3 x 7. 8 x 9. Etc. So sad. For me, it was but the start of lowered expectations for many many years.<br /><br />I wish it were different. But, apparently not. That's why that College Board report is so troubling...Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, M.A., J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13275146626229700016noreply@blogger.com0