April's Question

I understand your question about students who have been identified as having autism or aspergers syndrom. These children often have "normal" intelligence or even above the range of average. Yes, they do have communication issues and it is hard if not impossible to get a true IQ score of these children. I have worked with several of these students who do accell in mathematics. They are far above and beyond the other students in the class. Which then brings about the debate of what is intelligence? If we think it is communication, then "experts" say they are retarded.( A word that is offensive to some, me.) I f math is considered the defining factor than they would be considered brilliant. This is a question that often leads to a very intense discussion. I am a firm believer that intelligence can not be determined by a set of standards or an examination. We all have our strengths and weaknesses and we are a valuable asset to life. Maybe this is the idea behind the theory No Child Left Behind. Is there issues with the testing of this concept? Absolutely. Is it a good idea to expect and truly believe everyone can learn? Absolutely. I am very passionate about my job and my children. Can I make a difference in their lives? Can they learn and grow? Do they deserve my time, energy, and respect? ABSOLUTELY.