Comments on: Special-education private schools http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/05/20/special-education-private-schools/ Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:49:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Margot http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/05/20/special-education-private-schools/#comment-7447 Margot Fri, 22 May 2009 00:25:10 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/05/20/special-education-private-schools/#comment-7447 Our son was accepted to The Aaron School while we were still waiting to hear back from NEST, and they very kindly agreed to waive the deposit until we found out whether or not he'd been accepted. (He was, and the program has been an excellent fit for him). As I understand it, private schools build these non-refundable deposits into their operating budgets. Our son was accepted to The Aaron School while we were still waiting to hear back from NEST, and they very kindly agreed to waive the deposit until we found out whether or not he’d been accepted. (He was, and the program has been an excellent fit for him).

As I understand it, private schools build these non-refundable deposits into their operating budgets.

]]> By: Anonymous http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/05/20/special-education-private-schools/#comment-7444 Anonymous Thu, 21 May 2009 21:43:36 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/05/20/special-education-private-schools/#comment-7444 Susan, I disagree. Marni writes from a personal perspective and since her son doesn't go to a private school, her experience is with the private school application process, which is why that is what she focused on in her "only" post on the private schools. She also goes out of her way to say that the NEST program isn't perfect - it serves far too few children - but that it has been as close to a perfect fit for her family as she could ever hoped. Marni is not a reporter, but a parent writing about her personal experiences in New York with a son in the public schools special ed. system. If you want balanced reporting, a column is not the place to look, although I do think she always makes an effort to acknowledge the fact that her family's experiences are not universal. Susan,
I disagree. Marni writes from a personal perspective and since her son doesn’t go to a private school, her experience is with the private school application process, which is why that is what she focused on in her “only” post on the private schools. She also goes out of her way to say that the NEST program isn’t perfect - it serves far too few children - but that it has been as close to a perfect fit for her family as she could ever hoped.
Marni is not a reporter, but a parent writing about her personal experiences in New York with a son in the public schools special ed. system. If you want balanced reporting, a column is not the place to look, although I do think she always makes an effort to acknowledge the fact that her family’s experiences are not universal.

]]> By: em http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/05/20/special-education-private-schools/#comment-7430 em Thu, 21 May 2009 18:30:11 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/05/20/special-education-private-schools/#comment-7430 Susan, I don't understand the willingness to bash the DOE. I am no fool and know there are some lousy schools but do you really believe that every school in NYC is horrible? Susan,
I don’t understand the willingness to bash the DOE. I am no fool and know there are some lousy schools but do you really believe that every school in NYC is horrible?

]]> By: Tania http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/05/20/special-education-private-schools/#comment-7413 Tania Thu, 21 May 2009 15:09:40 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/05/20/special-education-private-schools/#comment-7413 I concur re: Gillen Brewer - we had a great experience with that school. Our son was accepted there before we had a decision re: ASD NEST, and they allowed us to place a reduced deposit. After we decided to go with NEST, they also refunded our deposit when our son's spot was filled with a child from the waiting list. I only have good things to say about GB and the staff there. I concur re: Gillen Brewer - we had a great experience with that school. Our son was accepted there before we had a decision re: ASD NEST, and they allowed us to place a reduced deposit. After we decided to go with NEST, they also refunded our deposit when our son’s spot was filled with a child from the waiting list. I only have good things to say about GB and the staff there.

]]> By: Susan http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/05/20/special-education-private-schools/#comment-7410 Susan Thu, 21 May 2009 14:52:27 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/05/20/special-education-private-schools/#comment-7410 Marni, I don't know which schools you dealt with and which you didn't, or whether you ventured out of Manhattan. I do agree that the private schools are annoyingly difficult to deal with--what about the hefty application fees, too? And the attitude of some that you are trying to get your kid into Harvard Law. However, I feel that your blog has presented too unequivocally positive view of Nest, without acknowledging its problems, chief of which is how few children are served by its approach. Most bright and learning-impaired children are not well-served by the B.O.E. It seems further imbalanced for your only post on private or non-public alternatives to public school focus on a negative aspect. It would have been more useful to analyze how well these schools do their job. Peace, Susan Marni,

I don’t know which schools you dealt with and which you didn’t, or whether you ventured out of Manhattan. I do agree that the private schools are annoyingly difficult to deal with–what about the hefty application fees, too? And the attitude of some that you are trying to get your kid into Harvard Law.

However, I feel that your blog has presented too unequivocally positive view of Nest, without acknowledging its problems, chief of which is how few children are served by its approach. Most bright and learning-impaired children are not well-served by the B.O.E.

It seems further imbalanced for your only post on private or non-public alternatives to public school focus on a negative aspect. It would have been more useful to analyze how well these schools do their job.

Peace, Susan

]]> By: Susan http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/05/20/special-education-private-schools/#comment-7409 Susan Thu, 21 May 2009 14:32:09 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/05/20/special-education-private-schools/#comment-7409 The whole system stinks. I, frankly, have more bad things to say about the B.O.E. It is, after all, the mediocrity and laziness regarding special ed. within the system that spawned these schools back in the '70s. Would that the NYC Board of Ed. had diversified its special education back in those years when state monies were available, the same monies that support the publicly-funded private schools. There is no place for so many types of children within the current set-up. How many high-functioning special ed. kids do you think are really served in a class of 25 kids, half of them special ed, with 2 teachers? Right now, you're lucky enough to have your child in Intensive K. But many, many bright kids with various learning impairments, both autistic and otherwise, are not served by Nest, which is not prepared to serve any child with a learning disability. Thank God, it serves the children it does. But, until the Board of Ed. has decent and realistic options for a full range of special education children, don't be so quick to bash the private, or non-public schools. Yes, some of their attitudes and practices could also stand revision, for sure. But for some, they are the only option, no matter how difficult the process is and whether they can afford any of it. The whole system stinks. I, frankly, have more bad things to say about the B.O.E. It is, after all, the mediocrity and laziness regarding special ed. within the system that spawned these schools back in the ’70s. Would that the NYC Board of Ed. had diversified its special education back in those years when state monies were available, the same monies that support the publicly-funded private schools.

There is no place for so many types of children within the current set-up. How many high-functioning special ed. kids do you think are really served in a class of 25 kids, half of them special ed, with 2 teachers? Right now, you’re lucky enough to have your child in Intensive K. But many, many bright kids with various learning impairments, both autistic and otherwise, are not served by Nest, which is not prepared to serve any child with a learning disability. Thank God, it serves the children it does.

But, until the Board of Ed. has decent and realistic options for a full range of special education children, don’t be so quick to bash the private, or non-public schools. Yes, some of their attitudes and practices could also stand revision, for sure. But for some, they are the only option, no matter how difficult the process is and whether they can afford any of it.

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