In Irvine there should be no child that has to stand alone.
The Irvine School District has proposed the addition of a portable classroom for young College Park children. The objective of the classroom will be to provide specialized education for children with behavioral challenges, a place to learn and have an opportunity to thrive in our local school environment.
Recently in the OC Register I read that the Irvine USD board meeting was marked by a few angry parents and one solitary board member who offered his dissent when the board voted to add an additional portable classroom for these children. The concept of a specialized classroom for special education students is at the heart of an ongoing debate over the last several decades on the proper way to educate students with special needs.
Some believe that inclusion in the regular classroom aids development through better opportunities for socialization and the utilization of the general curriculum. Others feel that individual classrooms can focus on the needs of special education students through smaller class sizes and specialized curriculum. It’s an extremely interesting debate and I feel it’s a subject that warrants a real dialogue.
Jordon Graham, OC Register:
“The College Park Behavior and Social Learning Center program, houses the students in a single portable classroom. Though district staff insisted a second portable classroom would have merely provided more space for these students, a group of College Park parents saw the additional structure as a sign that the program would soon expand to become a ‘magnet school for problem-riddled children.’ ”
One of the parents stood up during the IUSD meeting and made a cautionary statement about the accommodation to special education students at College Park Elementary, his apprehension with the proposal was that:
“The behavior of children from the school’s Behavior and Social Learning Center program was detrimental to general education students.”
The parents comments were punctuated by a callous remark made by a IUSD Board Member Michael Parham concurring, and as the only lone board member to dissent and vote against the amended motion and then further articulate that he had
“agreed with parents that the program capacity should be capped, perhaps at 10 students and his concern is that if you build it, they will come,” Parham said. “If we create an environment where the size is there for 70 students, they come from all over California.”
WHAT???
These comments by Mr. Parham show a shocking lack of restraint and knowledge of the objectives of the new classroom. Not knowing Mr. Parham, it’s difficult to characterize his comments as arrogant. What they most likely reflect is a poor understanding of who this program is designed to help. Mr. Parham’s attitude is a classic case of NIMBY (Not in my Backyard). Every child deserves the right education to help them become a solid contributor to society. Mr. Parham seems to think that such a program will somehow attract “undesirables”. It’s a disgraceful and out of touch comment.
The special education program, which the IUSD meeting addressed, is for students in grades two through five, which recently began in September. Parents, students and teachers try to ensure that expectations are clear, roles and responsibilities are being met, and everyone feels empowered to seek to clarify and act upon concerns, before they become problems. How we feel about the challenge can have a profound impact upon how effective we all are in addressing problems and maintaining the energy and optimism that is so important to everyone’s well being. Children with learning challenges and other special needs know the importance of establishing close, strong, and successful collaborations between a host of qualified mentors and educators that will provide the essential combination that will reinforce family values and build on relationships so no child stands alone.
All children should have an opportunity to learn in an environment that is conducive to the needs of the child regardless of the disability. Our community is such that we provide a place that is nurturing, loving, familiar, safe and fostering growth and development for all of our children. All families are welcome into the Irvine family. NO school board member should discourage any families from attending a school in Irvine. Because if Irvine builds it they WILL come, we have the very best schools in the country.
“To raise a happy, healthy and hopeful child, it takes…all of us.”
A friend of mine works with Developmentally Challenged Adults and she had this to say:
“All children should have an opportunity to learn in an environment that is conducive to the needs of the child regardless of the disability — this says it all. Bobby* has flourished being in a regular class of some of his subjects w/out the use of an aid. Susie*, on the other hand needs a smaller size and has two aids at all times. With the two aids Susie* now reads the golden books, something her parents never dreamed would happen. We all learn different its finding the right way that works.”
* Not real name
I can’t tell you how angry I was when I read that one of the school board directors felt that we should not have an open door policy, for all children. Why would Mr. Parham be on the school board with this type of outlook on these children that need the most attention.