%20(1)%20(1).jpg)
A LETTER TO THE EDITOR FROM SARA BOYCE:
To the editor:
My letter to the CHFSD Board of Trustees appeared in the March 28th edition of The Gazette.
I would like to respond to a letter in the April 11th issue addressing some of the issues that I raised in that letter. There is nothing wrong with providing the "Key" needed to unlock a student's potential. Indeed, it is already being done as required by federal and state education department mandates.
The Croton-Harmon School district has almost always addressed the needs of students. Perhaps, the person who responded does not understand that the school is already required to accommodate every student with special needs including blindness, deafness, or any other disability. Every student with special needs has an I.E.P. formulated by parents of the child and professionals including special education teachers in each building who address those needs be it a service dog, extra time for tests, an aide who will accompany that student through the school day, someone who can sign, a speech teacher, reading teacher, etc. If a parent and the I.E.P. team agree, the district will provide an alternate placement that would be better for the student. There are programs in place and professionals available to help every student no matter what the need. D.E.I. is not about those needs.
To understand the whole nationwide D.E.I. movement, it is necessary to research the origin and motivation of this movement. It will take time and effort. It is quite the rage in the USA. As I read the DEI committee's proposal, I just shake my head over and over asking myself WHAT does that mean? What are they trying to say without saying it? Perhaps, a good place to start would be to find out what the equity lens is and why equity must not be confused with equality. Another, catch phase to research is "privilege" and what the implications are about it in the policy. Personally, I'd like the BOE to explain to me exactly who is privileged in Croton, and how they will determine which students and parents are privileged. Perhaps, the BOE will explain who in the CHFSD is oppressed or not privileged. Does not every student have the same classes (many required by the state) and actiivities available in which to participate and professionals ready to help with any issue. Equity is about "fixing" historical injustices despite the reality that laws and amendments have done away with those.
In closing, I would like to urge all parents with students at all grade levels in Croton-Harmon schools to pay attention to what is being done by the BOE. Ask questions. Get explanations if you don’t understand something. I sure intend to. Get involved please. Also, I urge all residents, not just parents, to get involved.
Thank you.
Sara Boyce
To the editor:
My letter to the CHFSD Board of Trustees appeared in the March 28th edition of The Gazette.
I would like to respond to a letter in the April 11th issue addressing some of the issues that I raised in that letter. There is nothing wrong with providing the "Key" needed to unlock a student's potential. Indeed, it is already being done as required by federal and state education department mandates.
The Croton-Harmon School district has almost always addressed the needs of students. Perhaps, the person who responded does not understand that the school is already required to accommodate every student with special needs including blindness, deafness, or any other disability. Every student with special needs has an I.E.P. formulated by parents of the child and professionals including special education teachers in each building who address those needs be it a service dog, extra time for tests, an aide who will accompany that student through the school day, someone who can sign, a speech teacher, reading teacher, etc. If a parent and the I.E.P. team agree, the district will provide an alternate placement that would be better for the student. There are programs in place and professionals available to help every student no matter what the need. D.E.I. is not about those needs.
To understand the whole nationwide D.E.I. movement, it is necessary to research the origin and motivation of this movement. It will take time and effort. It is quite the rage in the USA. As I read the DEI committee's proposal, I just shake my head over and over asking myself WHAT does that mean? What are they trying to say without saying it? Perhaps, a good place to start would be to find out what the equity lens is and why equity must not be confused with equality. Another, catch phase to research is "privilege" and what the implications are about it in the policy. Personally, I'd like the BOE to explain to me exactly who is privileged in Croton, and how they will determine which students and parents are privileged. Perhaps, the BOE will explain who in the CHFSD is oppressed or not privileged. Does not every student have the same classes (many required by the state) and actiivities available in which to participate and professionals ready to help with any issue. Equity is about "fixing" historical injustices despite the reality that laws and amendments have done away with those.
In closing, I would like to urge all parents with students at all grade levels in Croton-Harmon schools to pay attention to what is being done by the BOE. Ask questions. Get explanations if you don’t understand something. I sure intend to. Get involved please. Also, I urge all residents, not just parents, to get involved.
Thank you.
Sara Boyce
.jpg)
.jpg)
Thank you for your patient and thoughtful response.
ReplyDelete