Alan & Brenda Leonard

> I remember the progression from "slow" to "retarded" to "Special Education"
> to "Learning Disabled." That one I was in the front row for.

Now, forgive me, but I was gone a few days, so I confess to having done some
serious deleting to catch up. I haven't read all the messages.

However, I don't think anyone would disagree that there are truly disabled
people who exist. The kind of folks with extremely low IQ or low
functioning abilities, etc.

But there's a big difference, of course, between someone who will always
need assistance with their basic living situation, and the sort of folks
that are/were labeled Learn Disabled.

My father worked as a graduate student with (the late) Helmer Myklebust, who
was one of the folks who "discovered" the existance of learning
disabilities. He really knows this stuff well, and has spent many hours
patiently explaining to his very dense daughter (me!) how LD's work. Here's
the summary: these kids don't learn the way school teaches. They need to
learn things in a different way.

That's all, folks. A different way. Now, why this is called a disability
beats me!

brenda
(Disclaimer: ADD/ADHD is long after this. Not my experience at all.)

[email protected]

In a message dated 6/1/02 9:57:11 AM, abtleo@... writes:

<< Here's
the summary: these kids don't learn the way school teaches. They need to
learn things in a different way.

<<That's all, folks. A different way. Now, why this is called a disability
beats me!
>>

It's a disability to learn the way school teaches! <g>

But I know of no disabilities which prevent learning "the way unschooling
teaches."

I know there are people who claim unschooling won't work for their kids, but
I've never heard anyone who really tried it make that claim.

And I will certainly except such drastic situations as blind/deaf and serious
cerebral palsy and other situations in which the child can't communicate or
receive input.

But in a situation where a child is verbal and can manipulate objects, what
could be better than unschooling, if the parents understand it and are
willing to live their lives with their children in that way?

Sandra