From
the Superintendent’s Seat
A
Feast Beyond Compare
Focus
on Special Education
By
Dr. Carole G. Hankin
with Randi T. Sachs
I
attended a pre-Thanksgiving feast at one of our district’s middle
schools recently. This annual tradition has always been a special
occasion, but this year’s was truly outstanding. The food was
delicious, but it was the smiles of the children there that warmed
the room. The feast was put together by all of the middle school’s
students who utilize special education services. They prepared
the food and the decorations, and many came in costumes. For some
students special education may mean time spent with a resource
room teacher; for others it may mean that many, some, or just
one of their classes is taken with other students who have difficulty
learning those specific subjects.
This year, we have a new program in middle school called the Life
Skills Class. These students require more specialized instruction
and a curriculum that is appropriate for their individual needs
and abilities. All children participating in our special education
programs are given many “mainstream” opportunities. All of our
schools in Syosset plan a significant amount of school-wide programs,
such as concerts, science fairs, plays, guest speakers, dance
programs, and more, which all students attend together.
Special education teachers, regular education teachers, and related
service providers collaborate to provide the support a student
may need to participate in a mainstream class. When it is determined
that several students need more individualized attention and smaller
classes to succeed, the teachers work together to make sure the
curriculum mirrors what is taught in the larger classes.
We believe that every child is entitled to an education that enables
him or her to learn all that he or she is capable of. The services
we provide our students may adapt the methods they use to learn,
but for all who are able, the quality and breadth of the subject
matter need not be compromised, particularly as the student’s
learning abilities progress. In fact, almost all of our students
do graduate with a regular academic diploma and a plan to continue
their education in college or another post-secondary program.
Many students who utilize services have abilities and disabilities
that cover quite a wide range. But what is most important is that
we recognize that every child with or without disabilities also
has abilities—and nurturing these abilities is what education
is all about.
On the other end of the spectrum of special education is what
is often referred to as gifted education. In Syosset, our gifted
students in the elementary schools participate in a special program
we call Project Beyond. However, because we have found that the
teaching methods used in this program are so beneficial to our
students, we have expanded our enrichment education to include
a program called Talents Unlimited, which is provided to every
single child in every class—and that includes our self-contained
special education classes. Each week the school’s enrichment teacher
brings a new lesson to each class that centers around developing
one’s talents. It has proven to be a favorite lesson for children
and teachers alike.#
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