I feel compelled to enlighten him and others who voiced their anger at the Court's ruling.
Tom Freston may be weatlhy, but I seriously doubt he took this to the U.S. Supreme Court so he could enrich himself. His attorney's fees alone are probably much greater than the amount of money his lawsuit is asking for. And it has certainly cost him hundreds of hours of his time.
Furthermore, this isn't about Tom Freston's finances anymore. This is about the tens of thousands of families who are not wealthy and whose children desperately need special services; families who don't have the financial resources to shepherd this issue through a protracted legal battle. .
One of the reasons the Supreme Court and other appellate courts exist is to make rulings in cases with fact patterns that bring clarity to important legal issues that are likely to affect many more people than the litigants in whatever case is at bar.
Until you have personal experience caring for a child with severe AD/HD or Asperger's Syndrome, you have no idea the personal and financial devastation that it causes marriages and entire families. Tom Freston should be thanked and congratulated for taking on the burden and responsibity of enduring a long legal battle that will bring much help to desperate families in need.
-- Modified on 10/16/2007 1:29:25 AM
-- Modified on 10/16/2007 1:31:52 AM
we are told it is for the greater good. But when a wealthy individual fights for the rights of others, he/she is pointed at and we are told "they are selfish!?" By the way - WHERE was the frickin ACLU on this one?
The other thing that is less obvious, by having a child classified and their eligibility determined, that opens other doors for that child which do not have $ value attached to them. I know, as my daughter was in such a category... it was not about the $ in her case, but about the categorization and what that meant to her assignment to classrooms....
As they say, walk a mile in my shoes....
(1) The ACLU could be anywhere, but if I had to guess, they may want to focus on Bill of Rights issues that aren't otherwise financed.
What right do we have here? The right to state payments for private schools because a kid has an ADD dx? Where does that come in? State special ed isn't good enough for him?
(2) We don't know a whole lot about this case, so we need to distinguish THIS case from the GENERAL situation.
(a) In THIS case, we know the dad makes a ton of dough, went out and got a private school for his kid (whose spec ed dx we do NOT know), then sued for reimbursment.
(b) In the GENERAL case, ADD/ADHD is probably the most common SpecEd dx. It's a good bet that's what this was.
(c) In almost all cases, there is a psych dx under the spec-ed eligibility. There are no objective psych standards. Just aren't. To begin with, they're generally "spectrum disorders" ie exist in any degree, and the level they are a problem is when somebody complains. No shit, when anybody complains enough.
(d) So the point here is that when Rich Daddy & Neurotic Mommy thinks their kid isn't getting enough attention, they go out and get a psych dx, and get the kid into spec-ed, and the psych says that only their private school can do the job; and they get away with this because there ARE NO OBJECTIVE STANDARDS; so the kid gets private tutoring, eh? On the public dime.
(e) This looks like a pretty gross case, BUT, I've seen this - ie, the kids who don't need it often get the attention, while the po' folks SF cries about STILL get ignored.
Our fucking prisons are FULL of them, and vets come back with ALL SORTS of head trips, but GUESS WHAT?! They don't have money or political power, so they still suck hind tit. Which may be Ma Nature's way, but let's not pretend, OK?
(3) So what he's saying here is that SpecEd is turning into another corporate welfare program, like ag subsidies, where a small fraction of people pimp the system to draw down the most money. Today, Republicons are the worst about it, but most certainly the Democrats are accessories - and we the voters need to keep them IN LINE.
(4) The absence of objective standards in psych is making it a critical grassroots political issue, thru the schools and HMOs. Anybody with any brains can prove they are the biggest victim, and thereby get their dick sucked.
Shrug!! It's the way it is. Don't pretend or whine.
though I wouldn't say I believe IN it.
But none of that can be inferred from my post.
Perhaps yoou could tell us why or how you feel your comment is justified.
Or should I score your post another, oh, minus 2?
Do you really think you are behaving yourself?
Or are you regressing? Shall we try another prescription?
asked over a century ago.... and you remember that Nietzsche wrote "God is dead" - but then God had the last go - as "Nietzsche is dead - God"
So Dr.fill - does it all end with the white tunnel? or is there something after the tunnel? a la Kubla-Ross? Or are you going through her stages of Grief... since you no longer have Jack0?
Perhaps reading Life after life... by Ray Moody would help you...
for erudite conversation on your post wrt Jesus - and open up a whole new category to "burn the board" with... and all you can come back with is "what a fucking loon!" You're slipping Jack0.... the new personas are not doing you well.... and as I say... fill out that CMS 8551 so we can pay ya!
Cannot believe that you passed on an opportunity to prove beyond a shadow of doubt that "God is dead!" Was waiting for that one.
Go take your meds.
Overall, very bad behavior.
Are you really trying your best? We are really not interested in your religion, which has to be AT LEAST as looney as you.
Now, can you go back to the original subject? You know, find the top of the the thread, and read the 1st post, and respond.
Remember, you are already 20 points in the hole.
And BTW, where do you get off telling people how to post? You're the one crying you can't keep up.
-- Modified on 10/18/2007 10:14:32 PM
having a kid classified does not just get a monetary award... there are other things that "happen" - and for that I am grateful - what happens when a kid is classified? Selection of classrooms (that is access to teachers who are trained to assist those with special needs) and assistance with tests (including extra time to complete the test), reading or comprehension assistance (clearly something you were not provided with), and in some instances provision with special teaching materials (books and study guides to help the parents).
I know you think that it might have been about the money - WE GET THAT! But you are so single minded that you've not realized that this parent might have been trying to help kids.
We've gotten so "lawyered-up" as a society that it is difficult sometimes for us to just "do the right thing" - don't cha think!?
and I also believe you need your prescription changed.
I'll tell Mom what you've been doing.
that there is an "absence of objective standards in psych." Further you go on to state; "In the GENERAL case, ADD/ADHD is probably the most common SpecEd dx. It's a good bet that's what this was." Ok? maybe it was - and maybe it wasn't... There are some disabilities that there is a difinitive Dx. However, the test (essentially a head PET scan) demos abnormal metabolism in specific regions - but the symptoms are often just as telling. Then there are the kids with Asperger's Syndrome - and those have the syndrome to more or less degree.
Lots of stuff Jack0.... but you? well you focus on all the wrong stuff - don't cha.
We'll let you off without jail time - as you probably are already incarcerated.
I have no problem with someone squeezing the life out of their stupid little shits if it will cost me money.
READ THE CALL OF THE QUESTION.
It's not about 'who needs'. Everybody needs.
It's about (1) what standards, and (2) who pays?
The QUESTIONS ARE, what standards, and who pays?
Got it?
Any ideas?
Because if you can find standards, you'll be the 1st one. Crying don't pay my bills. Does it pay yours?
So let's hear your plan.
BTW, you're talking to somebody who's been thru it several ways, and seen it from several sides.
