Important issue for discussion in the Members' Forum
Dear Colleagues,
Aside from the snow we had yesterday, I'm happy to see the spring finally apprears to be upon us. Your friends on the NEALS Executive Board have been busy putting the finishing touches on the Spring Meeting at Fay School (see the Spring Meeting link for up-to-date information).
An excerpt from a letter we received recently from Priscilla Wolf at Indian Mountain School is pasted below. I have given it time on the "Main Page" because I feel that her letter warrants some serious thought and discussion. Full text of the letter as well as a space to leave your own thoughts, or jump into the discussion is on the Members' Forum page. I hope you will take a moment to read what Priscilla has to say.
"...More and more I get questioned as to why kids have to be tested BEFORE they get tutoring support. In reality we don't have to do anything that the public schools have to do, but I think t's important to know that these changes in philosophy are out there and the questions for us and our policy may increase. We have the testing stipulation in place for several reasons: it enables us to say No to the family who just wants to push a kid who is getting the grades which are appropriate for his/her ability (and there is no learning difference), and hopefully it gives us a greater understanding of what works best for the student. The problem is we aren't always consistent , and I have had to say No (and Yes) to some families whose kids should be in tutoring but don't have the testing. Some families simply do not have the funds for the private testing and our school districts to date require failure before they will do the testing for free. .."
I look forward to seeing you on May 8th.
be well,
Kara Ashley
Aside from the snow we had yesterday, I'm happy to see the spring finally apprears to be upon us. Your friends on the NEALS Executive Board have been busy putting the finishing touches on the Spring Meeting at Fay School (see the Spring Meeting link for up-to-date information).
An excerpt from a letter we received recently from Priscilla Wolf at Indian Mountain School is pasted below. I have given it time on the "Main Page" because I feel that her letter warrants some serious thought and discussion. Full text of the letter as well as a space to leave your own thoughts, or jump into the discussion is on the Members' Forum page. I hope you will take a moment to read what Priscilla has to say.
"...More and more I get questioned as to why kids have to be tested BEFORE they get tutoring support. In reality we don't have to do anything that the public schools have to do, but I think t's important to know that these changes in philosophy are out there and the questions for us and our policy may increase. We have the testing stipulation in place for several reasons: it enables us to say No to the family who just wants to push a kid who is getting the grades which are appropriate for his/her ability (and there is no learning difference), and hopefully it gives us a greater understanding of what works best for the student. The problem is we aren't always consistent , and I have had to say No (and Yes) to some families whose kids should be in tutoring but don't have the testing. Some families simply do not have the funds for the private testing and our school districts to date require failure before they will do the testing for free. .."
I look forward to seeing you on May 8th.
be well,
Kara Ashley
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