Recent requirements concerning the needs of special education students serve this concept well. Teachers must now make untimed tests available to large numbers of students. Since we already reserve Tuesday afternoon for untimed tests for all students, this particular need of special education students is well met. We prefer the concept that special education students are not singled out for this accommodation but are treated in the same manner as students without learning disabilities.

We have observed the development of a student backlash, in times of stress, against the “advantages” afforded special education students. This backlash will not occur if all students are treated in the same manner. We also prefer this in concept, because we believe that learning disabilities are not an on-off condition but rather a sliding scale on a continuum. Students whose “disabilities” are not severe enough to be positively diagnosed will still be well served by this approach.

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