The document discusses the need to overhaul the public education system in the United States. It describes the author's negative experiences in school as a child immigrant in the 1980s, being reprimanded for using her left hand. As a mother of two boys with autism and dyslexia, she has seen major issues with how special education is delivered, focusing on remedial education rather than teaching kids at grade level. The author also discusses challenges with schools not having enough resources to handle learning disabilities and not viewing teaching social skills as their responsibility. She advocates for more outdoor recess time and daily gym class to help kids sit still in classrooms.

1. TIME TO OVERHAUL OUR
PULBIC EDUCATION
SYSTEM
ILANAKEARNSAUGUST2020

2. We immigrated to the United
States in 1980 and I started
attending school in 1982 and I
hated it. My first memory was
being reprimanded for using my
left hand, it was deemed
unacceptable. Fast forward to
today and a mom with my own
two boys and I convinced the
entire public education system
needs to be overhauled.

3. My oldest was born on the Autism
Spectrum and both my boys overcame
Dyslexia. I learned the hard way that our
Special Education system in Georgia is
built on remedial education. Simply put,
kids who receive special education
services are not taught on grade level and
find me a kid who receives special
education who doesn’t “pass’? It’s
pushing kids who are already behind the
8 ball even further back.

4. Dyslexia brought on a new
challenge as we learned through
school interviews that not enough
schools are equipped to handle
learning disabilities due to lack of
resources like Orton Gillingham
and Hand Writing Without Tears

5. Social Skills are not taught to
those on the spectrum. Too many
schools view social skills as “not
their responsibility”. I challenged
my son’s school on this concept
and told them they are just
wrong. We institutionalized a
social “lunch bunch” program and
was so grateful we found a
solution to get my sensory
overloaded son out of a
lunchroom that blasted music
every Friday.It is mostly presented
before an audience.

6. I am convinced too many kids are on
ADHD meds because daily outdoor
recess is no longer the norm and at
best 25 minutes while gym class is
no longer a daily activity. How can
we expect kids to sit still in
classrooms for 8 hours without time
to just run around and play?