| Home | Bookmark | Tell | Active petitions in over 75 countries | Follow GoPetition |
Petition Tag - schools
31. Campaign for additional reception class for St. Werburghs by Sept 2011 
Hello, my name is Rob Tinkler and I have set up Facebook page ‘Local schools for local kids’ as a support group for parents unhappy with the places and schools that they have been offered in the local school admissions allocations.
On Friday 6th May 2011 we held a public meeting to discuss the matter and push for a solution by September’s entrance date.
In attendance were local councillors Jon Rogers, Gus Hoyt, Clare Campion- Smith and the council officer responsible for school admissions Mick Brannigan ( Service Manager; Capital, Assets and Access) as well as approximately 25 parents.
A lot of issues and possible solutions were discussed (I enclose a copy of the minutes from the meeting) the general consensus was that St. Werburghs and the local area needed another school in order to provide local schooling for local children.
32. Save Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Libraries/Staff
The Windsor-Essex District Catholic School Board made a decision April 12 to close the school libraries without consulting the parents or students or any debate.
This decision was made in-camera by four trustees and administration.
According to the Director Picard "the students do not use the materials in the library." He is unaware of that the Librarians expertise in electronic information and information skills have become more critical than ever before. The librarians also help students learn to critically evaluate materials and to use information ethically not just hand out books.
Schools with libraries average 10-20% higher grades.
Read more: http://www.windsorstar.com/Secret+vote+libraries+draws+fire/4768744/story.html#ixzz1MFKt40kY
33. Keep Rancho as a school of choice for all of Novato
- Rancho is a successful school of choice with some of the highest test scores in the county and state and has a track record for preparing its students with a solid foundation for middle and high school.
- Rancho is the most cost effective school in the district and keeps students enrolled in the district, protecting funding for NUSD.
- Rancho has attracted more students than it's capacity allows. For the past 20 years there have been 300 to 400 students on the wait list.
- Rancho’s lottery process is transparent and equitable. Making any changes to the process will not only be an expensive prospect but will create confusion and bureaucracy that will disenfranchise the very people we hope to protect.
- Achievement and intention create success, not averaging and boundaries.
34. Atms in Ware County High School
Some parents don’t feel safe with their kids carrying around a lot of money, and they would rather their kids carry debit cards around. In many situations students have to pay fees, sometimes using checks and in return sometimes bounces.
An atm machine can limit the usage of checks,so our school wouldn’t have to worry about losing money. The transaction fee will be approx. $ 1.50. $1.25 going towards the school and the .25 going towards maintenance. After its paid off the money would go towards student activities. Which would definitely save a lot of people a lot of money.
An atm machine will also teach students how to manage money and familiarize them with the machine before going into the real world.
35. More Fairtrade Products in Schools - Fairtrade the Fair Way
On average, producers are able to sell only 20% of their output through Fairtrade channels; the rest of it still goes to the ordinary market...thus proving the need for us to buy more products of this nature.
Our petition demands for more Fairtrade products to be sold on our supermarket shelves, regardless of cost, and for more of these products to be available in local schools in order to encourage their sale and set an example for future generations.
Schools are constantly having problems with headlice. Over the past 3 years i have had nothing but problems with trying to treat my kids hair, since they have taken the nit nurse out of schools the problem has got worse.
There are parents who don't check their kids hair and because of it the problem has got worse for 2 years I was spending £30 a week on the lotion for both of my children they were going back to school clear then coming home the same day with lice again bring back the nit nurse to find the culprits who are not checking their children's hair.
The leaderships of the secondary schools in the London Borough of Sutton are moving towards a mass conversion to academy status in the near future. The government is enticing schools to convert with ideas such as freedom over budgets, policies, extra funding.
These are assurances with caveats, offers with small print, and there is a real and severe risk that the quality of education for children in the Borough will suffer now and in the future if these conversions go ahead. Conversion does not assure a school's future, it places overall control in the hands of central government and removes all local accountability.
38. Banishing the PDA Rule from STVM
Being restricted from showing the ones you care about affection is wrong. Human beings thrive on one another to survive, we need affection to live.
Having that taken away and not being given a legitimate excuse as to why it is being taken away, is a violation of our rights.
39. I Should Be Allowed To Photograph & Video My Kids
"Stand ready to challenge any schools or councils that say 'bah, humbug' to a bit of festive fun."
I didn't write the above headline, it was said by the UK government's Information Commissioner, Christopher Graham.The full quote is: ""Armed with our guidance, parents should feel free to snap away this Christmas and stand ready to challenge any schools or councils that say 'bah, humbug' to a bit of festive fun."
It remains to be seen whether or not this official response will finally end the annual spate of incidents where frustrated parents are bullied into not recording their children performing in school plays by condescending school staff.
Data Protection Act. The reasons given by a very small number of schools for banning photography and video recording by parents at school performances have varied, but Commissioner Graham was responding specifically to the excuse that schools were taking action to avoid breaching the Data Protection Act, for which Graham is the official watchdog.
A number of schools had argued that as adopted and fostered children were in their care during school time, that they risked breaching the Data Protection Act by permitting parents from photographing their own children at school. Commissioner Graham has unequivocally stated that schools do not risk breaching the Data Protection Act in this way. He said: "Having a child perform at a school play or a festive concert is a very proud moment for parents and is understandably a memory that many want to capture on camera. It is disappointing to hear that the myth that such photos are forbidden by the Data Protection Act still prevails in some schools."
Common sense
He added: "A common sense approach is needed. Clearly, photographs simply taken for a family album are exempt from data protection laws."
Threat of arrest. Most of us may wonder what all the fuss is about as we have not experienced such narrow-minded impositions at the schools of our own children. But only recently news emerged of a parent who, in 2007, was threatened with arrest by police as he arrived at his daughter's school if he proceeded to break the school's ban on photography at a nativity play. The same school in Leicestershire still has the ban in place, although photographs can be taken after the performance is completed.
The school's head defended the ban, which was brought in at the request of some parents who didn't want their children photographed, and claimed that it accommodated both these parents and those who did want to take photos. The question has to be asked, if you don't want your children photographed at events like this, why? Indeed, why allow your children to be seen be other parents full stop?
Copyright. A few years ago there was a suggestion that video recording and still photography would be banned during a play being performed at the primary school our children attended. It was only a concern about copyright because the school had licensed a commercially supplied play. But by seeking clarification from the publishers of the play it was clear that photographs or recording made for personal, non-commercial, viewing, did not constitute a breach of copyright.
Official school guidance is that photography during school plays should be permitted. If there are genuine concerns from parents about the security of their children in the face of an audience of parents snapping their own kids during the Christmas nativity play, then it's that problem that needs to be addressed. Banning cameras is certainly not the answer, and it looks like that's now official.
40. Support Scoliosis Checks in UK schools
Scoliosis is a severe curve to the spine. Little of the population know about scoliosis so aswell as raising awareness I am trying to make the number of severe cases in scoliosis drop by spotting the condition early by having checks in UK schools.
Usually scoliosis leads to a serious operation when the curve becomes to big injuring your heart and lungs, However the number of cases of people having the operation could drop if the new scheme was to take place
41. Save Fife Classroom Assistants
Classroom Assistants and Clerical Staff were called to a meeting today with their Head teachers today (9th February 2011) and we were advised that we should be aware of the next set of job cuts to come from Fife Council. We were told to expect cuts in our hours, and a possibility of redundancies.
So once again education is being hit hard. First the playground supervisors, now lollipop men/women, classroom assistants and clerical staff but, who is it that is going to suffer? Not the powers that be at Fife Council who are making all these decisions but the children. Do the people who make these decisions have any idea how a school is run and just how much support staff are required to run the school effectively? Have they come in and shadowed a classroom assistant to see what their role entails?
Gone are the days of cleaning out paint pots. I personally feel we make a huge difference in schools. Why not ask the Head teachers and the teachers to see how they would feel if they lost the support of their classroom assistant. I also urge parents to question this decision because it's their children who will not be getting the extra support that some of them may require to keep them on task. We don't want to go back years ago when children just slipped through the net because there was not enough staff to support the needs of the school.
We work with children of all abilities including the same children that a Pupil Support 2 works with (who are on a higher grade) but I do it because that is what the needs of my school are and at the end of the day we are there to support the teacher and the pupils.
42. Drug free sports in our schools
Poway High School and many other schools have a serious drug problem with our students. One way to help control it is too establish boundaries. Playing sports at any high school should be a privilege.
We have set rules on maintaining good grades to be able to remain on a team and with that comes report cards to keep that rule in place. We also ask our students to sign a sports contract to comply with being drug free but we have no system in place making sure that contract is upheld.
Mandatory drug testing through out the season in each sport is necessary to insure our athletes are remaining drug free and with that comes severe consequences for athletes who are not upholding that contract.
43. Support Religious Rights In School
Lately, schools across the country do not allow you to wear a religious piece of jewelry or have and right to speak your religion in school.
Any student should be allowed to express their religious right.
44. Forest as a shared catchment school for Lower Earley
The new Maiden Erlegh catchment for Lower Earley seems great in principle. However the school will be at least 30 places short each year - those children will need to walk upto 3 miles to Bulmershe school.
We propose that The Forest school - less than 1 mile from Lower Earley, shares the catchment with Maiden Erlegh. Although boys only, its results and approach would attract enough boys from Lower Earley to create spaces for our girls at Maiden Erlegh.
Currently Forest and Holt are treated as a shared catchment, which makes little sense as they are miles apart. When oversubscribed 'radial distance' is used to decide who is successful in gaining a place at each school. This radial distance is not taken from a mid point - but the exact location of each school (highlighing that they do not service their current catchments equally).
Argyll and Bute Council is proposing to close Kilmodan School in the Clachan of Glendaruel. This proposal will deleterious affect our children's future and the future of the glen. If the school goes, we will lose services and amenities.
46. Stop Scottish State-Schools from Endorsing Specific Religions
Within state schools in Scotland there is a promotion of specific religions (dependent on the school) above others or irreligion. My belief is that there should be laws in place to prevent an unbalanced religious education for the children of Scotland as it goes against a diverse religious society in Scotland. Those who wish to follow their religion should do it in their own time and if they must during school day, they should make the choice to remove themselves from the class to do so.
To force those who don't wish to be part of a religious observance to leave the educational environment is discriminatory and ostracising against someone who has not made a religious choice at all.
Despite the majority of the country coming from Christian families, this does not mean we are a purely Christian country, 40% of the country follow no religion at all. Even if we are a 'Christian country' there is no reason for our faith to permeate into the educational system unless it is in a fair and balanced learning environment.
47. Mandatory Handwriting / Penmanship Classes for Elementary Schools
For over 25 years she has been featured on many radio and television talk shows as well as in the written media. In fact she helped write episodes for the popular CBS show Criminal Minds. She has completed casework for many public and private agencies (see references below).
Her most memorable cases include warning a woman that her husband could brutally murder her – a year later, he did. Another when she stated a sheriff deputy was dangerous – he later killed his girlfriend. Another when she stated a Homicide Investigator should not be trusted with children – he was later convicted of six counts of Child Battery. She also has enjoyed assisting in famous cases such as Michael Jackson, Darlie Routier, and missing Baby Gabriel.
Treyce is the President of both the National Association of Handwriting & Document Experts (NAHDE), and the International Association of Handwriting Formation Therapists (IAHFT). She is the CEO of the non-profit agency Written Escape, a proud member of Find Me, the National Scholar’s Honor Society, CHAI, SSCA, and others.
Her 15 published books include “Written Violence – the Personality Behind the Pen”, “Case Files of a Forensic Handwriting Analyst”, “Answers”, “The Only Handwriting Analysis Book You Will Ever Need”, “Dangerous Ink”, “Finding Mr. & Mrs. Write”, “What’s Going on Upstairs”, "You Abused Me: Handwriting of Victims", "I Abused You: Handwriting of Perpetrators", and more.
Services include custody evaluations, employment & tenant screening, jury selection, pre-parole evaluations, detecting lies & drugs, pre-termination violence assessments, compatibility, progression of suicide, sexual abuse, forgeries, anonymous notes, and much more. She nor her staff are affected by geographical boundaries.
QUICK REFERENCE LIST
Texas Department of Education, various Juvenile Probation agencies, KnowGangs, Council of Governments, Southern States Correctional Association, Great Lakes International Gang Investigators Coalition, International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts (in USA & Mexico), Regional Organized Crime Information Center (ROCIC), West Virginia Department of Corrections, Arizona Public Defenders Association, Texas Gang Investigators Association, Colorado Law Enforcement Officers Association, Green Dental Lab Human Resources, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, Durango Police Department, Dalhart Police Department, Trimmier Elementary School, TruVision Management, Texas Parks & Wildlife, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Village of Glendale Heights Police Department, Refugio County Juvenile Justice Center, Bell County Precinct 1, Lamar County Juvenile Probation, Arkansas Probation & Parole
Association, Harlingen Consolidated ISD, Society of Human Resource Management, Hopkins High School, Geico Auto Crime Investigations, 4theKids, Lost Child Network, Missing & Exploited Children, Louisiana State Police, and many more.
Springstowne Middle School will be moved to the Hogan High School campus at the end of this school year. They should be allowed to keep their school name after the move. The school is known nationally for the last several years for titles earned in wrestling & band competitions, as well as high test scores.
The community has donated thousands of dollars towards band uniforms & wrestling mats that are imprinted "Springstowne", not "Hogan". The community supports these teams and take a great deal of pride in them. The coaches have put in countless hours towards helping these students acheive these titles. We need to honor our kids and not take their school name from them too. Enough has been taken from them already!
49. Action for Schools in Flintshire - We want the funding system changed
Comparing averages from both countries the spend per pupil in Wales is £527 less than pupils in England. This has been reported several times in the press.
What many people do not know however is that in Flintshire the problem is further compounded:-
Comparing individual counties in Wales, Flintshire receives £339 per pupil less than the Welsh average.
Despite several attempts by contacting the council, LEA and The Welsh Assembly we have received letters of no substance or avoidance of the questions asked. The Assembly say it is a Council issue and the Council say it is a Welsh Assembly Issue.
Sign up now and support our fight for answers, we need fair and realistic funding for our children's education.
50. Get Justin Hines on the Oprah Show
Canada's Justin Hines is a passionate, sincere and driven singer/songwriter. He has managed to surpass physical disabilities to create a successful a career in music that many people dream of having.
He is currently campaigning the “Say What You Will” initiative to help build schools in South Africa to benefit youth education. The campaign seeks to raise funds towards the Stephen Leacock Foundation for Children, The Association for the Physically Disabled (Eastern Cape) and other charitable partners.
51. Oklahoma's Anti-Bullying & Anti-Viloence Hotline for Schools Petition
I am trying to get a bill submitted to the Oklahoma Legislation to assist kids in trouble. The legislation would require the state or a state organization or a non-profit origination to set up a hotline for children in the state of Oklahoma to call if the are being bullied or even if they are involved in any other kind of teen related violence, for example if your being abused by a boyfriend/girlfriend. And then every school would have to post the state's school violence hotline so that students would have quick access to services.
I am following in the foot steps of Gov. Paterson of New York State. Who I believe had a great idea for trying to help keep our children safe. "Students have a right to an education, and in order for them to get the education they are entitled to, they need to be able to go to school without fear of being bullied and harassed by other students"-Donna Lieberman, executive director of NY Civil Liberties Union.
Gov. Paterson's was just anti-bullying but, I believe we need to include dating violence.
I believe Oklahoma has a responsibility to provide the highest level of protection and care to our children also and this legislation would help do just that.
So, I hope that each and everyone out there will please take a moment to sign our petition. This is just one small step on a much larger issue but, hopefully it is a step in the right direction.
If anyone has any suggestions I am always open to outside opinions and all the help I can get is greatly appreciate.
This is for Ty Field-Smalley and his family. I hope that we all can come together and help make a difference.
Thanks everyone for your support. Now, it's in God's hands & he has a special Angel helping him with this one!!
52. Anti-Bullying & Anti-Violence Hotline For Schools
I am trying to get a bill submitted to the Alabama Legislation to assist kids in trouble. The legislation would require the state or a state organization or a non-profit origination to set up a hotline for children in the state of Alabama to call if the are being bullied or even if they are involved in any other kind of teen related violence, for example if your being abused by a boyfriend/girlfriend. And then every school would have to post the state's school violence hotline so that students would have quick access to services.
I am following in the foot steps of Gov. Paterson of New York State. Who I believe had a great idea for trying to help keep our children safe. "Students have a right to an education, and in order for them to get the education they are entitled to, they need to be able to go to school without fear of being bullied and harassed by other students"-Donna Lieberman, executive director of NY Civil Liberties Union.
Gov. Paterson's was just anti-bullying but, I believe we need to include dating violence.
We have a responsibility here in Alabama to provide the highest level of protection and care to our children also and this legislation would help do just that.
So, I hope that each and everyone out there will please take a moment to sign our petition. This is just one small step on a much larger issue but, hopefully it is a step in the right direction.
If anyone has any suggestions I am always open to outside opinions and all the help I can get is greatly appreciated.
Thanks everyone for your support. Now, it's in God's hands.
53. Keep Resource Officers in Connecticut schools
The Department of Public Safety announced that the school resource officer program will be suspended as of July 1 in an effort to save $1.2 million. The 19 troopers across the state who are school resource officers will be reassigned to patrol responsibilities, according to state police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance. The projected savings will primarily come from a decrease in overtime expenses for patrol units, he said.
The resource officers play an important role in the day to day lives of the students. They should not be cut.
I am writing to you to ask for your support of national legislation that will empower schools and educators in their efforts to protect students from bullying and harassment both in school, and through the use of technology.
Once considered something of a rite of passage or just kids being kids, bullying is now defined by experts in the fields of mental health and criminology for what it is - an act of abuse and terrorism on our most vulnerable citizens. FBI investigations have determined that bullying has been a contributing factor in over 70 percent of all school shootings, and research has linked bullying to a host of educational concerns including everything from academic failure to depression, substance abuse, delinquency, gang proliferation, self-harm and suicide.
Bullying is often a red flag of more serious psychological problems that escalate over time. Research has determined that one-in-four students identified as pattern bullies by third grade are convicted of a violent crime before the age of twenty-six, and 98 percent of these will go on to abuse their spouse, children, and co-workers.
The good news is that there is a great deal that can be done to change this. Several states have recently passed laws to address bullying both in school, and through the use of technology. Unfortunately, the training and implementation varies greatly from state to state and district to district. Florida has recently passed The Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Students Act. From the beginning, this bill was recognized as the best and most comprehensive in the nation. Jeff's Bill has the "teeth" it takes to not only empower schools to protect our children, but to get help for the thousands of children that slip through the cracks of the education system only to end up in our criminal justice system as violent offenders. Before we demand that our children meet our high standards of academic achievement, we must first ensure the most basic duty of every adult member of society. We must guarantee our children the opportunity to learn in an environment that does not threaten their physical and emotional well-being.
I ask you to please give your full support to this legislation, and help make America's schools a safe and nurturing place to learn for ALL children.
55. Help Save E.T. Belsaw Mount Vernon, AL Middle School from Closing
Monday May 24, 2010 there will be a meeting at E.T. Belsaw-Mount Vernon School with Dr. Nichols the Mobile County Superintendent. During this meeting he will be proposing that we close our Middle School and that our students be “BUSED” to Rosa A. Lott Middle School in Citronelle Alabama, 30 minutes away.
He may feel that it is best for our children; however, collective as a community, we do not. We had a town meeting on May 21, 2010 and we have decided not to let this happen. Help save E.T. Belsaw Middle School from Closing.
56. Support School Governance Reform in the City of Rochester
By signing this petition you are voicing your support and joining a movement that is motivated by a desire to provide better opportunities for our city school children.
If our children are to have a brighter future, drastic change must occur; reforms need to be implemented - the current system must be challenged.
We can no longer ignore the crisis facing our children and our schools. Its time support a new school structure that puts our children first.
57. Opposed to West Milford School Closing
The West Milford Board of Education is threatening to close one of our elementary schools due to budget cuts. We, the citizens of West Milford, strongly oppose this proposal.
We have not received any information about this potentially harmful decision and we feel, as tax payers, we have the right to have our many questions answered. Our children's future educations are at stake.
58. Alberta Schools - Principles for 21st Century Education
Alberta should be proud of its school system. It ranks second in the world behind Finland in terms of educational outcomes. Our schools are also ranked by several studies to be the best in Canada and are strongly supported by local communities. Of course, there are challenges – there always will be. But our students, working with their teachers and supported by parents and the community, are generally doing well and our schools are amongst the best in the world.
The challenge for Alberta is that doing well now may not be good enough for our future. As a small jurisdiction – just 3.5 million people – we face growing competition from others for talent, capital and resources. “Good” may no longer be good enough – we need our schools to be great so that Alberta can build its next generation economy, enhance and develop our communities and sustain our environment.
It is time for change.
Our social and economic well-being requires a different kind of school and learning from that which helped build such a successful Province. Essential skills (literacy, numeracy, critical thinking, digital navigation) remain essential, but so are other skills – social networking and team skills, problem solving, participatory democracy skills, Imagineering and creative skills, design…there are many such lists and different conceptions of what these lists mean. The point is simple: we need to rethink what it is our schools are doing and how they are doing it, building on our success in doing so.
What we have to do as citizens is decide what our schools are for – “what is the purpose of our schools in the 21st century?”. Then we can work out just what schools should work on to continue to be amongst the best in the world.
Schools are the foundation of civil society and they lay the foundation for life long learning. They are the hub of communities. Teachers, as professionals, need to be nimble and adaptive as knowledge and understanding changes so quickly. They also need to be respected as professional. Parents need to be engaged in their child’s learning. Students need to be seen as citizens in their own right and their rights should be respected.
We are preparing our young people for a world that is different from the one we grew up in, for jobs that don’t yet exist and for the reality of constant and faster change. What is clear, is that the new economy is driven by knowledge and the speed at which people adapt and learn will become critical to both their success and the future of the Province.
Also clear is that an old reliance on basic skills will not be enough to secure the long term well-being of individuals, families or communities. We need to see education is the primary investment we will make in our Province’s future – they are the foundation for lifelong learning.
Education is also the bedrock of democratic society. Education is the great leveller – it allows people to develop to the potential of their intelligence and hard work, and breaks down the cultures of entitlement based on social class, bloodlines, race or religion. Citizens must be literate, have a decent understanding of history, science, politics, math, and be able to apply reason, evidence and critical thinking both to his or her own life and to the broader context of society and the environment. They must be encouraged to use their own minds and conscience to guide their decisions, rather than abdicating this responsibility to authority figures. They should also learn the difference between scepticism and denial of evidence.
Critical thinking should not be confused with criticism of thinking.
An investment in education and learning should be driven by some core principles – principles that commit us to a vision of schooling that focuses on excellence, supports differences and makes sure we do not loose out on the global “war for talent”.
We know that the Government of Alberta intends to introduce a new School Act. This should be an Act that stands the test of time, that helps Alberta build its future and enhance its position in the world.
The Act and the work associated with it needs to be based on some key principles. We should make these principled commitments as a Province so that our schools continue to be amongst the best in the world. You can help by signing up to these principles – we will let you know how to do so shortly, but use this blog to register your interests.
59. High Schools specifically for kids diagnosed with Aspergers and High Functioning Autism
I am a parent of a five year old child diagnosed with High Functioning Autism (HFA).
Since my son was diagnosed with his condition mid last year, I have learnt that increasing numbers of children are being diagnosed with HFA and Aspergers Syndrome and these kids struggle to survive in mainstream education as they get older. This is because their different learning style, social isolation, acute anxiety and various sensory sensitivities leads to many not being able to reach their full academic potential in the mainstream setting and this is a real shame because these kids are extremely intelligent.
I have been disturbed by the amount of parents I am meeting with HFA & Aspergers primary school kids of various ages, who are saying that mainstream high school will not be an option for their kids and that they plan to home school for high school.
I have also been shocked to hear from parents of HFA and Aspergers kids who have already finished high school, say how traumatised their kids are after finishing school, having withstood years and years of relentless bullying and now they struggle to function in the adult world. I think that we need to get small high schools set up in Australia specifically for students with HFA or Aspergers. At the moment in Australia there seems to be no other social schooling options other than mainstream for the kids at the higher end of the autism spectrum.
Now that there is hard evidence that these kids brains are wired differently and they have a different learning style to their neurotypical peers, educators need to consider this option. I also think it is unfair that these kids have to put up with high school bullying (as the statistics are that 90% of kids with ASD's get bullied at mainstream high schools). I know that many high schools have special ed units in them but other than learning difficulties, the playground is where the main problems are and these kids are being permanently mentally damaged by being made to withstand our system and ‘fit the mould’.
I am of the view that having a few small high schools with a modified curriculum tailoring to Aspergers and HFA in each state, could really benefit these kids and if large ASD friendly companies (such as banks, engineering, IT type firms) got on board with sponsoring kids for on the job work experience programs as part of the curriculum, it could lead to them having a real chance at succeeding at life and being less traumatised by not having to put up with neurotypical bullies.
Other countries such as the US and UK already have these types of high schools available as an option.
I find it incredible that this has not occurred here yet.
If you agree please sign this petition and it will be delivered to the Australian Federal Government.
UPDATE - 9/4/10 - For people in NSW, I have been informed that there is currently a Parliamentary Inquiry being held into the education of students with disabilities and special needs and they will still accept submissions from the public. I will be making a submission and encourage everyone else to do so as well as this will be another great way for people in NSW to get your concerns heard. The link to the inquiry details is -
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/committee.nsf/0/47F51A782AEABBABCA25767A000FABEC
Also - If there is anyone who has a child with Aspergers / HFA currently struggling through mainstream high school and you are prepared to talk to the media please contact me via the petition link below as there has been some interest.
UPDATE 2/8/10 - The link to this petition has been forwarded on to all state education departments and federal ministers. I have received some correspondence back, generally saying that they have taken note of our concerns and will keep it in mind when formatting future policies. The petition will be closed down shortly after the federal election. Thanks to all for taking the time to sign it and I hope that we do see change in the not too distant future for all our kids sakes.
60. Do NOT Delay Hillingdon's Building Schools for the Future Programme
In 2008 the Government announced that Hillingdon secondary and special schools would be included in a £150 million programme of modernising and improving our schools and making their facilities fit for the 21st century.
A year ago the council sent out to local schools a brochure setting out their plans on how this money would be invested in improving our schools. The Council said at that time that “We will experience exciting new changes in Hillingdon schools, making them suitable for 21st century learning.” The Council told us that the plan was to start in the south of the borough and include the north of the borough as soon as possible.
The Council should have agreed its plans with the Government by now so that we can secure the funds and start the work. However, on Thursday 18th March 2010, the leader of the council informed secondary head teachers that the Council is delaying agreeing the improvement programme plans until after the election and is laying off the bulk of the staff working on the programme. In addition the national Conservative education spokesperson has said that if the local programme has not reached “financial close” by the election “then it won’t be guaranteed.”
In effect this means that the £150 million programme for our schools is now at serious risk.