Comments on: Will national standards fail autistic students?

By: Robert Voltaire

Robert Voltaire — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 05:04:12 +0000

I hope that the new national standards do not fail autistic students and rise to their benefit. There is a huge hole in the way autistic students are being cared for in our school systems as it is. To think that autistic children are neglected by educators because of the problems they pose is awful. Please national standards come to their aide!

By: Noelle

Noelle — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 21:53:23 +0000

I'm going through a RN to BSN degree program right now with hopes of working in pediatrics. This post kind of made me sad thinking about all the children that could potentially be left behind, despite educational standards. I think a tailored approach for autistic children will help to keep them on track.

By: Xavier Sunde

Xavier Sunde — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 18:42:09 +0000

Thank you for spending some time to line all of this out for all of us. This particular blog post was really helpful to me.

By: Louis

Louis — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 14:23:49 +0000

Under the new system, children from early in primary school will be assessed against some very narrow requirements

As if education for the children wasn’t narrow enough. I think national standards are not only failing autistic students but every student in general.

When has learning stopped being interesting?

By: juries

juries — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 03:52:42 +0000

Very disappointed with the way some people deal with autism. Its a two way process for the parents and other people upon its implementation. This national standard will surely help to deal on autism.

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:12:31 +0000

I can’t believe that a child would be denied playtimes or things that interested her, in order to make her do repetitive drills. That’s just outrageous!

By: tito

tito — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 12:29:23 +0000

hello,

I am 25 year old and im having my autism course, reason is i wanted something, people i know use to ask me why do i choose to have this course? well they dont know behind the door in our house is a brother of me who has autism, i wanted to teach my brother, i wanted him to be smart, i wanted him to learn something, i choose this because i love him, i really wanted to take care of him personally, well after reading your article? i was thinking, can i handle my brother, can i give all that he needs? all i wanted is to give him something, special attention and will not hurt him, that’s why i wanted my course to personally teach my brother and take care of him.. I hope for more post from here, maybe i can get something for my brother.

Best and warm regards,
Tito

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:28:49 +0000

I have a niece who is diagnosed to be autistic. I’m worried for her. But really, not only children with this predicament is affected by the new curriculum. Even regular students are not really at par with the standard. Nonetheless, it is important, too, to raise the level of our education.

I think it’s not the academic value that our students need to be shaped, but their character. The change that the world needs is the change of heart. Our educational leaders must focus on that.

By: Hilary

Hilary — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 22:00:10 +0000

Thank you for all your comments. The National Standards regime is still happening in NZ and meeting a lot of resistance from parents and schools generally as there is no evidence internationally that it works to increase student achievement (good relationships are much more effective). We already have a compulsory and centralised school system in NZ which provides pretty much the same education wherever students live so need more student centred support to help those who are struggling, not a testing regime.
It seems that now schools with autistic students can decide whether they need to be part of the testing regime or not.

By: Scott Rago

Scott Rago — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 23:46:03 +0000

This is such an important topic. We are friends with a family that has an 11 year old autistic girl. They have really battled “not” babying her to much and working on just simply treating her equal to their other children and giving her the freedom to make her own mistakes. I know as a father it’s hard enough just raising healthy children without autism. Great article by the way!