Dear Mr. President (Contest Entry)

Dear President Obama,1

I must say I am thoroughly excited to see you in the oval office; you have promised great change and I believe you can succeed. Though it is true, no one can make a 180 degree turn in four years, it can certainly start. I will also add that I believe you have chosen a strong Cabinet to start the turnaround for change. However, though I would love to continue congratulating you, this is not the point I have written to you today.2

If there is one thing I could ask you to change, in the whole United States of America, it would be the No Child Left Behind act. I’m not asking you to abolish it, because in some cases it can be extremely helpful; I am just asking you to change it slightly. 3

Between being a Personal Care Attendant for disabled children, volunteering in a school for severely disabled children, and having a brother with disabilities, I have made some very strong opinions about No Child Left Behind as it pertains to disabled children. From what I hear from elders, and from what I read, it seems that they are trying to eventually integrate all students into a regular class room. My problem with this is that the people in charge of this are not recognizing there are different levels of disabilities, and that every child learns at a different pace and in a different way. Some children are visual learners, some verbal, some a combination of both, you can’t expect to put everyone in one room and have it all work out.4

What they are trying to develop are “Resource Rooms”. The resource rooms that are available now are class rooms that children with disabilities spend a few periods a day in, where the teacher can almost completely focus on that child. There are other children in the room but with similar learning disabilities to everyone can understand each other. However, what they are trying to do is have everyone in the same classroom and the “Resource Rooms” can only be used for emergencies and/or when it is absolutely necessary. 5

Now, I can understand English as a second language Learners that these resource rooms can be available to them if they are struggling to learn the language to get some help; I can see if there are children with perhaps slight learning disabilities or social problems that they should be able to take a test alone in a room if need be. 6

However, I want you to picture this: A severely disabled child, nonverbal, paralytic, and prone to a seizure, who is fed with a G-tube being placed in a regular class room. They’re personal nurse is not going to take the time to wheel a child down long hallways, to wherever this resource room is if their child is having a seizure. The more time they waist as that child’s eyes are rolled into their head, the more brain damage it is going to cause. So think about the children, gifted to be born without such troubles, watching this child shake and have a nurse call for help; what is that child going to think? A second or third grader would be traumatized watching their classmate get his/her diaper changed in the classroom as the teacher taught, because the nurse isn’t going to take the time to wheel them to a resource room and deal with the stench. Think of the children watching the nurse put slush into a tube running into this child’s stomach because they have to be on a specific feeding schedule.7

Those are the problems our schools face if the No Child Left Behind act continues attempting to get rid of private school for the disabled and getting rid of their special rooms within the public schools. What will all the kids tell their mothers when they see things like that? It is like communism, the idea looks wonderful on paper, but you have to look at the people not just the idea. Then if you forget to think of one single person, you could be missing a big chunk of the plan.8

I’m sure it is truly a great act for some children, but Mr. President, for others it would only be embarrassing and traumatic. I’m just asking you to reconsider some of the parts in that act, because as fool proof as it may seem, it’s not. I truly hope you take this into consideration; I have complete and utter faith in you sir.9

A Caring American Citizen,10

Vail-Marie K.11

Author notes

As you can tell I feel very strongly about this subject.

A contest entry

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1 - 5 of 5

  • MeKaBa silver member
    September 30

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    Nonsense

    Of course no one is going to be changing children's diapers in a public space! People get arrested for that kind of thing. Nurses would not wait to attend to life threatening needs in a particular room a need would be met immediately. You are over reacting. Resource rooms will not be done away with either. Individual schools will always have some control and parents can attend the board meetings. The government itself needs to stop telling local districts what they have to do. But an ideal to not leave any child behind is a good one and a means to insure it should be reasoned out. And who says private schools will be closed? THIS IS AMERICA WE HAVE FREEDOMS HERE! Only a socialist/communist would deny us our free agency. I believe you need more education yourself. Perhaps this is happening in your district but it is not happening in mine. The whole letter is based on a fear that does not have a basis to it. Otherwise it is heartfelt. I can tell you firmly believe what you say.


  • davelolione gold member
    September 14

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    Wow! A very provoking piece

    Children and in particular children with disabilities is always going to be a touchy subject and quite righly so!
    However i don't think any one descison taken on a particular stance would fully best serve the needs of every individual. Some would respond better to intergration while others wouldn't.I feel that you should let the carer's and the teachers and where possible the student chose what they feel is best for the that individual; but more importantly keep the options flexable.

    A good piece of work in highlighting a very need in educational care.

    Dave


  • Nikki Rowles
    September 2

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    the last line of paragraph line...could use rewording..not nessicary but I'd consider it...wow...yes very strongly...and you literally had my eyes glued to the screen...you're words are very strong and you're points pecise and you reach the audience...very well...or you do to me a least...and I can't say I knew much about the no child left behind act but I agree with what you say... they do not need to be forced to stay in that same class room because... one it's a destraction for the other students...two it's not that safe for the kid...and many other reasons most of which you noted...I agree with you 100%...last year my schools student council organized an easter egg hunt for the Pre-K class at our local schools...anyway..I signed up to help..I love kids...don't want them for myself for quite a while but I still love them...anyway.. didn't really care which classroom I was placed in...I do now...but... anyway... I got put in the room with the special needs kids...and it broke my heart to see four and five year olds stuck in wheel chairs or with walkers...and I know that it happens and still it broke my heart...so I know that it will catch other four and five year olds off guard...But I wouldn't change it for the world the kids were amazingly sweet and I'm going to get that same room this year...Student Council VP I get choices like that cause I know some of the other people that sign up for these things and I don't know how they would handle the thought of it...I'm sure some would be better than me but I KNOW some would be worse... anyway... sorry that this was so long...I kinda got ranting...but thank you so much for entering my contest and best of Luck
    *Blessed Be*
    Phoenix


  • trekkergirl
    January 13

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    Yes, I do see that you feel very strongely about this subject. And for good reason. I do not care all that much for that particular thing either.

    My reasoning is just the opposite of yours though. How about if a child is a very intelligent child. This child is being held back because of all the money going to the no child left behind thing.

    They don't have the money for programs focusing on the child who could be a doctor, or a nurse, or scientist. Something that can help society.

    Now don't get me wrong... it's a good program in thought. But in practice it just doens't work.

    Not only are kids falling through the cracks but we have fell further and further behind the other countries in reading, math, and other subjects.

    Good idea's you have brought up.

    Well written.


    • Faeinthewood
      January 13
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      EXACTLLY! (I know I spelt that wrong)
      But I also feel the same way about those children who are of greater intelligence are being held behind! I sure as hell know I'm not ready for college because of my precalculus class. We are still on chapter 1 and the first semester just ended.
      Like I said it seems like I good idea it just doesn't really work out cause you end up hurting someone!
      I'm glad you liked it, and thanks for the comment!

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