Today

On Monday April 23rd, over 100 parents and concerned citizens gathered at Halifax West to take part in the Minister's Special Education Review. EEANS made a presentation and a written submission to the review panel. Parent after parent passionatley talked about how Designated Special Education Schools and the help of the Tuition Support Program was making a difference in the lives of their children. One of the most moving statements came from a teacher of Bridgeway Academy, Lynne Fielder. To you and all of the dedicated people who work with our kids in both public and private schools, thank you for being a teacher.

Today I was a teacher.
Today I taught individualized instruction to students with learning disabilities.
Today my largest class size was 6 and my smallest was 2.
Today I visited every single student at his or her desk.
Today I read every single students work.
Today I know that every single student understood their homework assignments before leaving the classroom.
Today I emailed a parent because their son wrote 7 sentences in his journal compared to the 3-word single sentence he was writing in September.
Today I listened as a 16 year old student advocated for herself because she
needed an extension on her assignment.
Today I connected with every single student in my care.
Today I taught kids who “got it.”
Today I know that every student in my classroom experienced success in his or her learning.
Today, when the dismissal bell rang, I saw 97 students with learning disabilities leave Bridgeway Academy with a sense of dignity.
Today I was a teacher.


By Lynne M. Fielder
Teacher, Bridgeway Academy

Presented on April 23, 2007 to the Minister’s Review of Services for Students with Special Needs.

Minister's Review of Services for Students with Special Needs Meetings Schedule

Minister's Review of Services for Students with Special Needs will be getting underway soon.

Purpose of the review as stated by the Minister:
“We want to ensure that each student is receiving a quality education,” says Education Minister Karen Casey. “This review team will identify our successes and where we can do more.”

The purpose of this review is to:

* determine whether the funding provided by the Department to support individual programming and services initiatives has resulted in the intended outcome,

* make recommendations that would improve the outcomes of current initiatives, and

* to identify new programs and/or program adjustments to be considered by the Department that have been shown to be effective for educating children and youth with special needs.

It is very important that as many EEANS members and other stakeholders, who want to see improvement to the quality education of children with learning disabilities in Nova Scotia, take time to attend these meetings. This is a chance to tell your child's story. To inform the government of your experience as a parent and to comment on the present state of special education in Nova Scotia.

See you there.

Here is the schedule:

Berwick Public Meeting
Tuesday, April 17
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Berwick and District School
220 Cottage Street

Yarmouth Public Meeting
Wednesday, April 18
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Yarmouth Memorial High School
52 Parade Street

Halifax Public Meeting
Monday, April 23
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Halifax West High School
283 Thomas Raddall Drive

Dartmouth Public Meeting (French Session)
Tuesday, April 24
7:00 - 9:00 pm
École du Carrefour
201A, avenue du Portage

Videoconferencing will be available from the following sites/le public pourra aussi participer par vidéoconférence à partir des sites suivants :

La Butte
École secondaire de Clare
80, chemin Placide Comeau

Arichat
École Beau-Port
2359 Route 206

Truro Public Meeting
Wednesday, April 25
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Cobequid Educational Centre
34 Lorne Street

Bridgewater Public Meeting
Wednesday, April 26
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Hebbville Academy
16147 Highway #3

Port Hawkesbury Public Meeting
Monday, April 30
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Strait Area Education Recreation Centre
304 Pitt Street

Sydney Public Meeting
Tuesday, May 1
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Sherwood Park Education Centre
500 Terrace Street