It appears the fix is in for segregated schools - Well, the full- court press for a segregated “ model” school is on. As a parent of a child with special needs and a former school trustee, I can’t decide whether to scream or cry. ( 1) Current Education Minister Shirley Bond mentions such schools in the legislature; ( 2) former Liberal education minister Christy Clark wants to set one up, likely in a Vancouver school; ( 3) Eleanor Gregory, a Non- Partisan Association Vancouver school board trustee supports the idea in a Sun Issues & Ideas article; ( 4) school board chair Ken Denike says he has a “ gut feeling” that a “ model” segregated school will go ahead; ( 5) Clark interviews Denike on CKNW about the “ need” for a model school. All this has occurred before the issue has been discussed at a public meeting. The irony is too sweet. A provincial government underfunds education. School districts, such as Vancouver, cut supports for special needs students. Parents are rightly outraged. Now, the ministry of education, Clark and it looks like Vancouver NPA trustees ride in with the answer — a semi- private “ model” segregated school. There is ample evidence that inclusion ( which does not mean dumping kids in classrooms with insufficient support, and might include time in separate supported classrooms) can work. We need the funding and commitment to give inclusion a chance to succeed, for all students.

JANE BOUEY- Vancouver

Re: Special needs debate doesn’t need ideology, Soundoff, March 5

Thank you for Dr. Anton Miller’s balanced description of how specialneeds students all have differing needs and require placements tailored to their individual needs.

His views are in agreement with the Supreme Court of Canada. In the case of 12- year- old Emily Eaton, the court ruled that “ a presumption in favour of integrated schooling would work to the disadvantage of pupils who require special education in order to achieve equality . . . integration can either be a benefit or a burden depending on whether the individual can profit from the advantages that integration provides.”

Thanks also to Vancouver school board trustees Eleanor Gregory and Ken Denike and Education Minister Shirley Bond for recognizing that new models are needed.

The School Act says that the individual needs of the student are paramount and a wide range of services must be available in every district.

There is no need for conflict between special- needs groups; and no excuse for ideology being used to deny any group the educational services that it needs and is entitled to.

RICK MOORE Board of Directors Learning Disabilities Association

of Vancouver