Imagine this:
Could the native coping skills that an LD child develops, as a way to function with their LD, be considered a “first language?” Psychologists have proven that in times of stress individuals who are bilingual will inately revert to their “native” language.
Then who would listen to such a strange notion?
Schools chief fails must-pass test
By Associated Press, 8/3/2003 20:01
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/215/regionSchools_chief_fails_must_pass_:.shtml
LAWRENCE, Mass. (AP) Superintendent of Schools Wilfredo T. Laboy, who recently put two dozen teachers on unpaid leave for failing a basic English proficiency test, has himself flunked a required literacy test three times, The Eagle-Tribune reported Sunday.
Laboy, who called his failing scores ”frustrating” and ”emotional,” blamed a lack of preparation and concentration, and his lack of English skills. Spanish is his first language.
”It bothers me because I’m trying to understand the congruence of what I do here every day and this stupid test,” said Laboy. ”That’s what, emotionally, I’m so upset about.”
State Education Commissioner David P. Driscoll said he is aware of Laboy’s troubles with the test, but would not say how many chances Laboy would be given to pass or what the consequences of another failure could be.
He commended Laboy on an ”excellent job” leading the district, but said ”he’s going to have to pass.”
”He told me he needs more time to prepare for the test. I told him, ‘Fine.’ … The situation will only get serious if he goes much longer without passing,” Driscoll said.
Since 1998, all educators from teachers to superintendents have had to pass the Communications and Literacy Skills Test, which measures basic reading and writing skills, including vocabulary, punctuation, grammar, spelling and capitalization.
Laboy barely passed the reading section on his second attempt, scoring the minimum required grade, he said this week.
He also failed the writing portion three times, and a section requiring test-takers to transcribe a passage read over an audiotape, using proper punctuation and spelling.
Candidates must pass all sections of the test in a single sitting, and may not appeal their scores, according to the state education department Web site.
”What brought me down was the rules of grammar and punctuation,” Laboy said. ”English being a second language for me, I didn’t do well in writing. If you’re not an English teacher, you don’t look at the rules on a regular basis.”
Laboy, who receives a 3 percent pay hike this month that will raise his salary to $156,560, recently put 24 teachers on unpaid administrative leave because they failed a basic English test, which has been required since voters passed a law last fall requiring English-only classrooms.
Driscoll said he is willing to give Laboy more time to prepare for another retest.
”He’s not a native language speaker, so a formal test is something he needs to prepare for,” Driscoll said. ”It doesn’t mean anything now. It will mean more as time goes on because there’s an
expectation that he’ll pass.”
Re: Food for thought/
[quote=”PT”][quote=”Anonymous”]Imagine this:
Could the native coping skills that an LD child develops, as a way to function with their LD, be considered a “first language?” Psychologists have proven that in times of stress individuals who are bilingual will inately revert to their “native” language.
Hi,
Without commenting on the article you posted, I definitely feel that is the case in my situation. Just recently, I commented to someone that as an adult with LD/ADHD, many times, I feel like a foreigner as I have to make the translation from what I would do intuitively to what folks without LD do, which is usually the norm for the society.
When I am under stress, those coping mechanisms definitely go down the tubes.
PT[/quote]
PT,
Not to get off subject, a friend of mind just asked me how does an adult who thinks he is dylsexic and ADHD go about getting a diagnosis. Who does he go to, a neurologist, psychiatrists or neurophsycholgist?
Thanks very much
Re: Food for thought/
I should extend an apology…
Tagging that new article about the MD school supervisor was somewhat hyperbolic (interesting story but, not appropriately pertinent to the main question.)
As to living a dual life of comprehension:
If you can manage to find a copy of Erik Hollngale’s book “Context and Control,” take a look at chapter 4 “Fundamentals of the Model.” It may seem a bit thick with engineer speak (just ignore that strata and read it with a broader social and personal eye.) But it is curiously helpful in delineating various stages of action. Such as, Scrambled control: when the event is limited to the present, no consideration to past or future. Opportunistic Control: Similar to Scrambled in that actions match the immediately present situation with some thought to the effects it will have. Tactical Control: Horizon is expanded, action sand events from action are considered in greater detail before a choice is made. Strategic Control: Where we are fully aware of what is going on, plans are deliberate, and actions fit the demand, tat is, the horizon is seen both for and aft as well as within an active time frame.
What this type of structured orientation to action and reaction might do for you is open for your own interpretation, yet it has helped me focus on the context and sub text of various situations, extending from navigating conversations at a party, to focusing my attention to reading a chapter in a book (down to the letters, on the page).
On the outside, I think that the “special intuitive” actions that individuals with various stages ld’s have can be an attribute to this model, in that what may seem scrambled to non Ld’s actually come from a history of trial and error. This could mean that new aspects of action can be gleaned.
Mayleen, I’ve not a clue where to go for diagnosis. Though I suspect taht you can find tat information soemwher on this LDOnline.
first languages
The article is an interesting one and a part of all the insanity that prevails in the politics of modern education. Somehow somebody out there thinks that by having teachers pass tests, they’ll be better teachers. I wish it were that simple.
As someone once said, ‘this too shall pass’ but in the meantime there’ll be suffering which is basically what the article is talking about without using the word. Our schools are suffering right now from thinking that schools are about tests and not about children.
As to your interesting idea as LD coping skills being a first “language’, I understand your point without being quite able to agree with it. A first behavioral response I could go with and would also agree that we all can revert to those things we did first.
Re: Food for thought/
[PT,
Not to get off subject, a friend of mind just asked me how does an adult who thinks he is dylsexic and ADHD go about getting a diagnosis. Who does he go to, a neurologist, psychiatrists or neurophsycholgist?
No problem, Mayleng. You have asked the million dollar question. I would go to a neuropsychologist first. But pick someone very very carefully.
If the neuropsychologist confirms the ADHD diagnosis and your friend wants medication, hopefully, this person could recommend someone for him to go to. Not to scare you but I have heard of horror stories where the neurospychologist agrees that someone has ADHD but the psychiatrist still refuses to prescribe stimulants because of her/his own biases.
PT
Re: Food for thought/
[quote=”PT”][PT,
Not to get off subject, a friend of mind just asked me how does an adult who thinks he is dylsexic and ADHD go about getting a diagnosis. Who does he go to, a neurologist, psychiatrists or neurophsycholgist?
No problem, Mayleng. You have asked the million dollar question. I would go to a neuropsychologist first. But pick someone very very carefully.
If the neuropsychologist confirms the ADHD diagnosis and your friend wants medication, hopefully, this person could recommend someone for him to go to. Not to scare you but I have heard of horror stories where the neurospychologist agrees that someone has ADHD but the psychiatrist still refuses to prescribe stimulants because of her/his own biases.
Thanks PT. I appreciate your advice.
PT[/quote]
I may also be going a little off topic...
but I think I understand this point and relate it to a new language that my son is learning. The language of visualization. If I may quote from Etta Rowley’s book.
The human mind is always trying to find a way to do tasks more simply and in less time…It is called the law of parsimony or economy of movement.
Visualization is the ultimate in movement conservation because there is no observable motion. The movement is going on in the mind. It is the highest ability of which any spieces is capable. As a substitute for action, visualization develops an inner language which allows the learner to communcate to himself in a different manner. ………..
Included in visualization, which may also be called “feedforward” is “feedback” or memory. Memory comes from previous experience. The human mind, is the only mind that can think ahead, plan the thought and execute the action. It is this ability that gives the human the distinct advantage over other species on the earth.
End quote….
So the ability to be a strategic planner is really hinged on the ability to visualize. It is a highly efficient language that allows for a more efficient learning process and improves performance on many levels.
[quote=”Anonymous”]Imagine this:
Could the native coping skills that an LD child develops, as a way to function with their LD, be considered a “first language?” Psychologists have proven that in times of stress individuals who are bilingual will inately revert to their “native” language.
Hi,
Without commenting on the article you posted, I definitely feel that is the case in my situation. Just recently, I commented to someone that as an adult with LD/ADHD, many times, I feel like a foreigner as I have to make the translation from what I would do intuitively to what folks without LD do, which is usually the norm for the society.
When I am under stress, those coping mechanisms definitely go down the tubes.
PT