The article "IDEA Case Opens Supreme Court Term" (Nov. 6, 2007) reinforced what those of us working in the public schools are already acutely aware of: that those with money and political savvy will always get a "different" education than those with few or no resources. The fact that Tom Freston is an executive and could most likely afford to pay for his son's private education, but "on principle" thought nothing of forcing the NYC School District to use public funds to pay for his son's private school tuition and for legal expenses in court, sickens me. Time and again we are forced to drop everything and focus on one or two children on our caseloads whose parents are litigious to avoid the district having to pay exorbitant court costs if the parents sue. Never mind that we have other equally deserving students who are entitled to our time and expertise as well; for some parents of kids with special needs "it's all about us." Current public school caseloads and resources make it difficult enough to provide quality service to all children, never mind providing Cadillac programs to children of the privileged whose parents can pay their own way.
Maryellen Sternad
Albany, CA
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