We knew something was up by the time she was two. She
didn’t learn the words for things as easily as other kids. By the time she was
five, we were looking for alternative schools for her.
We did this with a lot of trepidation.
Her kindergarten teacher, seeing that, said gently,
“Everyone is afraid to look at special-ed schools, but when you see them, you
will find yourself thinking, ‘Every child should have an education like this.’”
She was right.
Schools that specialize in learning differences –my
daughter went to two private ones, in two different states, with her brother
joining her at the second -- are the warmest, happiest schools I have ever
seen. And my kids were happy and confident even as they worked hard there.
The biggest difference? The student/teacher ratio is
usually around 7 to 1. When your child’s teachers work with just seven kids, they
know each one. It is a true personal relationship.
And working with such a small group, outside the
mainstream of how school is supposed to be, these teachers can teach the child
in front of them. A twelve-year-old who doesn’t know how to read? No problem.
They will start where the child is. By the same token, they can accelerate when
warranted. Though my son is dysgraphic, meaning he cannot pick up a pencil and
write legibly, his teachers at this school saw his math abilities and started
moving faster; he was ahead of grade level when he left. His teachers
had the autonomy to give their students whatever they needed: no red tape, no
delays and no worry about standardized test scores.
It is, indeed, the educational experience every child should have.
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