Seeking parents for natl news story on school placement

One of the national morning news programs is doing a segment on the twin legislation movement (www.twinslaw.com). I believe they already have parents who support same class placement or at least parental input in placement lined up, but they may still be interested in hearing from anyone with a compelling story related to this issue.

They definitely want at least one person with an opposing view to be there to balance the story. Anyone who actually agrees with mandatory separation by schools or at least personally feels separate is best who would be open to being interviewed in NYC next week please pm me with contact information and I will forward to the person coordinating this.

Thanks!

 

I just sent you a PM

 

QUOTE
Anyone who actually agrees
Honestly, I would be extremely surprised if you have any takers when they are categorized like this from the beginning.

 

QUOTE(Dianne @ Jun 11 2007, 03:41 PM) [snapback]288079[/snapback]
Honestly, I would be extremely surprised if you have any takers when they are categorized like this from the beginning.



I am not sure where you got the idea that I was doing that. I am replying because I really do not want my intention to be misunderstood by anyone else. Sometimes when you are typing instead talking these things happen. For the record, I am NOT categorizing anyone, just asking if there is someone who agrees with a different point of view who is willing to express it in an interview. I actually think it is important to have both sides represented. I may have a different point of view but in the end I would like to think we are all parents who want the best for our own kids, regardless of which position we take on this subject.

 

I interpreted the word "actually" to mean along the lines of how out there that opinion would be and how you would be surprised if someone could truly feel that way but it is worth a shot for the sake of having someone to argue with.

I personally don't actually feel that way so please don't think I am standing up for myself or people who share a common belief as myself. I was just commenting on something that struck me as impolite. I believe the decision should be made by both parents and teachers working together to share their expertise on the children and the school system, together they should be able to work out a plan that they feel will work best for the children and also keep an open mind to changing that if indeed it is found that it is not working as initially anticipated. If that means keeping the multiples together then so be it, if it means separating the multiples then so be it but to come onto a site that you post only about one topic (with I think maybe one exception?) and make it sound like people might as well jump off a bridge than have the opposing view just doesn't sit right with me. Perhaps if we got to know you better it would be easier to understand your typing, please feel free to join in some of our thousands of other topics, obviously we know how you feel about classroom placement of multiples!

 

QUOTE(Dianne @ Jun 11 2007, 11:23 PM) [snapback]288654[/snapback]
I interpreted the word "actually" to mean along the lines of how out there that opinion would be and how you would be surprised if someone could truly feel that way but it is worth a shot for the sake of having someone to argue with.


It was definitely not intended that way. I am definitely not looking for an argument and am actually very open to hearing from someone who also has multiples on the other side of this subject. Frankly I would value that input a lot more than a school administrator who until last week refused to even meet with us to even discuss it!

By the way, how I feel about school placement is that a parent should have input either way and that one size does not fit all. I just discovered these boards and you seem like a nice commnity. I would love to become a more active member when our lives calm down.

 

First off, Welcome!!!!
Here's my personal take on this:
DS(s) have always been in different classes since Kindergarten, at my request. They see each other several times during the day, like at lunch, at recess, during reading classes (they have similar skill levels and are grouped together), so they don't spend the day missing each other. However, they were together in preschool and their teacher told me she strongly recommeneded they be in separate classes in K. One is slightly ahead of the other in social development, but each has their own unique personlities/talents. When they were together one was consistently verbally dominated by his brother and his personality didn't show at school much. I think now, after two years, the gap in social development is much smaller and each has the chance to make his own friends and follow his own interests. The more quiet of the twins is now quiet when he chooses to be, not because his brother talks for him (which is what happened in preschool).
This summer, they started out by requesting to be in the same class next year, but I've left them in separate classes while reminding them how much they're together. After we talked, they agreed with me. I think right now, the benefits of different classes far outweigh any disadvantages for them. I think the class placement decision is situational, and has be re-evaluated frequently.
I agree with both of you; the decision should be a result of both the parents and the teacher's input, and with the child's best interests in mind. I don't think any "always separate" or "always together" mandates are reasonable, either for teachers or parents. Forgive me if I overstepped any boundaries, but that seems to be close to what you were BOTH saying.
I read once that e-mails are not the best way to communicate, becasue so much is lost because of the lack of face-to-face, nonverbal communication that happens when people converse. Maybe the same could be said of on-line forums! I'm not trying to say I dislike these forums; I'm just saying that maybe something is lost in the communication. I didn't mean to offend anyone, and I'm sorry if I did unintentionally.