RE: BUILDING ON OUR TENET FOR THE LEARNER

To Tony Salso: This was exactly what I referring to.  If we 
make school so hard and so boring we are going to lose 
more children.  Many children with learning differences often 
won't be able to advance beyond a certain academic level 
no matter how many math classes you give them. So taking 
away their elective - which could be their only hope for 
school satisfaction and possible employment - is not 
serving our children or our community. Do we really want 20 
- 25% of our students to not obtain a high school diploma 
and thus limit their employment opportunities? My daughter 
has been on the honor roll every quarter because she 
works so hard and her teachers make lots of 
accommodations. I doubt, with her learning differences, she 
can pass the exit exam as it stands. Not having a diploma 
will make her a second class. Let's give her and kids like 
her opportunities to pursue vocational paths and 
opportunities for classes that maximize the learning 
experience for all. All children are gifted in some way. Let's 
build on their strengths, not their weaknesses.