2012 conventions 2012 election 2013 session 2013 special election arts arts and culture author ballot measures basketball bomb books boy scouts budget bullying business charlie hales children clackamas climate change coal college courts crime culture culture club democrats drugs economy education environment family film fluoride food gay rights guns handguns health health care health insurance high school history housing immigration internet kitzhaber law legislature lgbt literary arts living marijuana marriage media medicine mental health military minor parties mohamed mohamud movies music native americans news newspaper obama olympics oregon our town parenting pers photography police politcs politics port portland portland business journal president prevention public safety religion republicans rnc romney rural salem sam adams sandy hook schools science shooting sports suicide supreme court taxes technology television terrorism theater third parties transportation union university of oregon washington wildfire women

You can look at this post and think she should have just studied harder or you can look at this a realize that there is a chasm in our educational system.

Outwardly I should have been one of those  prime candidates for collage middle class, both parents have degrees, I was read to as a child but I have a stigma of a learning disability; difficulty with reading comprehension and ADD.  I shouldn't be lumped in with those that have severe disabilities but I was not able to keep up with my friends grades even though I was more socially adept then most

I tested very badly in my sats and was under the impression from my high school counselor that I had no other choices then an associates at a community college. That no universities would accept me, if they did I would not receive any financial assistance, that because of how I learn I would be to overwhelmed with higher education. I had the distinction and the stigma of being the only one of my group of friends to not earn a degree.

In grade school I tested into the TAG program but because I utilized the resource room I was denied entrance into the special programs. In high school I was denied AP classes, that I qualified for, because there had been an IEP (individual education plan) with my name on it. I was told that I was a smart girl I just learned differently but by all impressions, lack of assistance and less guidance for me then for higher testing students, it was clear that I was not a valued student.

I wanted to go to college to make my parents proud and at one time become a historian on the politics of world wars. I have taken classes of interest to me at PCC but often times the classes do no more then give me a forum for discussion on topic that I have already taught myself and the higher learning still alludes me.

Learning disabilities come in many forms and so many times we are taught not by words but by actions to be ashamed and to hide our problems. To onlookers it looks like we aren't trying. 

I belive that a lot of his 40% is struggeling through education limbo. To scared to look stupid and to outwardly smart to receive unsolicited help.

posted 3 years, 12 months ago
view in context