Special Education Today newsletter 4(18)
This is the newsletter for the week that began 21 October 2024
Photos
In the US kids (and some adults!) will be out and about on Thursday the 31th [sic] this week to celebrate Halloween by “trick-or-treating.” Here are a few images showing what they’ll encounter at some decorated houses in my neighborhood.
Actually, the image on the bottom right is from a local restaurant…where beverages with alcohol can be served. I haven’t encountered offers of beer and such to trick-or-treaters at any neighbors’ houses!
That bottom right image also gives me a chance to note how important Dias de los Muertos is in some parts of the world. I think it’s a wonderful holiday and, if I get time this week, I’m going to watch the film Coco again. It’s a film with a wonderful spirit,1 fun music, delightful animation, and a favorite theme (for me): Remember your ancestors.
Status update
Although there haven’t been any spurts in subscribership since the time when I wrote a remembrance of Jimmy the K., there has been some growth.
In the Department of Shout outs and Thanks, I offer a special salute to Kathryn S., Wayne, Jan B., Bob P., Kim L., Pei H., Michael K., Linda A., Dan H., Clay K., Ed P., and June R. Thank you! All these people are among the folks who provide support for SET, helping to make it possible for the project to exist. (This list is not exhaustive. I just selected these 12 names semi-randomly from a list of paid subscribers.)
As I previously noted, I find it especially wonderful that Mike G., Kathy M., and Li-Yu H. provide sustaining support for SET.
Oh, and thanks for the restacks and comments, Sandra D., Paul C., and Katie D.
And another thanks to those who drop likes and who share SET, by whatever mechanism. Some of those copies you distribute to others result in those others becoming regular readers and subscribers. Share on!
Posts from last week (the “ToC”)
Although regular readers know that they can go to the Website at https://www.specialeducationtoday.com/ to see the current publications, it’s also helpful to share that link. Pass it along, please! Paid subscribers who visit the home page can read any and all posts listed there. Free subscribers can read the posts that appeared in the previous 10 days (and some others that are on the free side).
This past week I posted five articles2
Special Education Today newsletter 4(17): The week’s news and info for 21 October 2024
Elopement & water safety: What can we do to prevent drownings? [Paying subscribers]
Education and Business: Lovitt's Lines: Does business really provide a good model for education?
Low vision techniques: How can one help kids with low vision and what does this have to do with Korea?
Recently read—26 October 2024: What have I been reading lately, you might wonder?
Notes and comments
As much as I enjoy remembering my own ancestors, I want to take a moment to pay homage to some ancestors I Charlottesville. I have two notes relevant to this topic that I want to pass along to SET readers.
First, here is an image of a cemetery that is along one of my walking paths. It covers about 2 acres, was established in 1873, and is the final resting place for more than 600 African-American citizens of Charlottesville. Yep, there was segregation even in burying. These days, a group of volunteers called Preservers of the Daughters of Zion Cemetery take care of the cemetery. And, “take care of” means that they also provide records about some of the people interred there. For example, there’s a page about Fannie West Fleming (1872-1902) , who was a teacher, and another about Benjamin Tonsler (1954-1917), who was a school principal. I wonder what students with disabilities they saw and helped.
Second, a group of local residents have are working to preserve Charlottesville historic locations and memories. Beloved Community Cville is an organization that provides opportunities and resources to learn about those who went before us in Charlottesville. We attended a launch event 26 October for the group’s “tours” which have been produced as brief videos that one can watch on line. It’s a great way to celebrate local African-American history.
Now, I hasten to add here that the arrival of Halloween and Dias de los Muertos does not excuse us from taking care of ourselves and of others, nor does it absolve us of our duty to teach our students well. Please keep these goals “in mind,”
Peace & love (and boo!),
JohnL
John Wills Lloyd, Ph.D., UVA Professor Emeritus, and Founder & Editor, https://www.SpecialEducationToday.com/
Nootfotes
Perdón, por favor, por juego de palabras.
What—only five? Are you free subscribers feeling shortchanged? If so, please write to me with suggestions about what you’d like to see published more frequently. Better yet, start a paid subscription and encourage me to write more (maybe even better) content.