Reading Technology

I find myself amazed by the quality and the quantity of technologies that can be used to help children learn in a less restrictive way. For some reason I find the braille technology for blind students to be the most fascinating. I think that is because books in braille are not something that is in every classroom but this new braille technology could be. I always find myself concerned though that only the very best and richest schools will be able to afford this technology. Yes, it is better for the students but how will their schools afford the best technology. How long will these schools have to scrape by using out dated technology and materials. Something has to change with school funding to give all of our children the opportunity to learn in the "Least Restrictive Environment". I really think that technology is important to children with special needs. How then do we get more money to schools who need it and make sure that the new cutting edge technology reaches those in the poorest areas of our country?

Lakeview Schools

I went to Lakeview Public schools here in Michigan. My parents live in Lakeview and that is where I grew up. This past school year a lot of new teachers and support staff have lost their jobs. This has been happening for years now with out it getting any better. This hit home this past year when 2 of my Aunts lost their jobs with the school district (one was a gym teacher and the other was a Special needs classroom helper) and my mother (Special Ed Parapro) took the early retirement instead of being laid off. The school is a mess now with restructuring everywhere. They have put teachers into positions that they have no experience in, for example, putting a high school special ed teacher into a 2nd grade general ed post. The support staff for students with special needs is practically non-existent. All of the libraries in all of the schools were shut down last year which means no computers are being used or books being checked out. The cafeteria is privatized, busing is privatized. The lower elementary school is shut down or will be shut down soon. However, the superintendent says that the school is not in trouble.
Our whole village is in serious economic trouble and the schools are potentially facing being shut down because of the number of students whose parents have decided to take their children out of the school. I feel that a lot of people have ignored the rural schools and this is the result. We have suffered a lack of funding and a horrible school board for many years. I am hoping that this will show people that the rural areas have a lot of trouble too and it is not just the Detroit schools that are in turmoil.

Click here for the article that made the problem public from the Greenville Daily News.

This article will give you an idea of the seriousness of this problem click here