Special needs education in the public vs. private school systems

The question of special needs students being corralled in just one of the education system's "four tiers" is examined in an article by Robert Green in the Montreal Gazette.

Those of us who have been intimately involved with special needs education in recent years are acutely aware of the iniquities created by a system that allows admissions to three of the four types of schools that exist, to be governed by entrance exams. Therefore, 99 percent of all the special needs kids end up in the open-to-all public schools, which are then forced to bear the entire burden, and classroom consequences, of educating these students.

The article states that as much as 30% of the secondary students on the island of Montreal attend private schools, which are able to avoid the entire issue, including the diversity benefits, of special needs.

Green compares this system to that of Finland, where arguably better overall results are obtained while welcoming special needs kids into all classrooms in the country.

It should be mentioned that, contrary to what the article seems to suggest, there are definitely students with extreme behaviour issues in private schools. That, however, is a relatively small element of the overall special needs education picture.

One reason for hope is that the new PQ government's platform  promised to “modify the funding of private schools so that they are required, like public schools, to integrate and support students with learning difficulties.” according to the Gazette article.

This will be something to follow carefully. Now that the door may be opened, the envelope should be pushed further towards the Finnish example.

South Shore Community Networking Benefits Families with Special Needs

Community networking is an important, and often overlooked, source of valuable information and support for special needs - this was certainly proven true at an event held Wednesday, Oct. 3, at Access in St. Lambert, where a wealth of information was exchanged among participants.

The networking evening was initiated by RAPID, and in fact was more a mutual coming together of various organizations, all working for the betterment of social and community life, with a focus on special needs, in the south shore area of Montreal.

Representatives of the following organizations were present: RAPID (Resources for the Anglophone Population with Intellectual Disabilities), "Step-Up", a program for adults with special needs at Access, the adult learning and continuing education centre of Riverside School Board, the South Shore Reading Council, the Centre de Soutien entr'Aidants (which is a support centre for persons caring for the elderly), the Canadian Celiac Association, POEMS (Parents Organizing Educational Missions Through Songs), S.Au.S (Soutien Autism(e) Support), ARC (the Assistance and Referral Centre of the Ministry of Health and Social Services), the CSSS Champlain - Health and Social Services Quebec (Champlain) and the South Shore Community Partners Network.

The representatives of each organization gave a brief description of the needs they address and some of the work they do. Some of these groups are entirely concerned with special needs, and for others, special needs are a component of their operations.

Many of the groups present acknowledge quite similar experiences, just as a simple result of the geography, demographics and history of the South Shore Montreal - Montérégie area. As the English-speaking population is scattered across a large area, there are often difficulties in getting a critical mass engaged for any one project or service. Another factor that comes into play is that many people choose to use services offered in Montreal or the West Island, perhaps just because of persisting family ties or habits that have been built up over the years. Also, in some cases, many English-speaking people end up using a service offered in French only, just because it is available close at hand, even though having something in one's own language would be far preferable (as in the case of a senior citizen or a child with special needs).

Another interesting aspect brought out by the different groups is the diverse means of communication used by both the organizations and their target communities. Even though communicating is probably easier today than ever before, it seems that the sheer number and variety of media and communication used make effective communications more complex.

At the conclusion of the meeting, it was agreed that the participants would keep in touch and consider possibilities of developing synergies that exist, partnering or other future cooperation.