Special Education Today newsletter 3(39)

What was happening last week?

Yes, indeed, it’s time for the 39th issue of the newsletter for Special Education Today. You may expect the expected. Just keep on reading…nothing to learn in this paragraph.

I took the following photo during a walk along the trail. It shows one of two remaining Osage Orange trees that are nearby. The other one is a few meters north-northeast of this one.

The Osage Orange or maclura pomifera—sometimes known by other names such as mock orange, hedge or horse apple, and monkey ball or brains—is a pretty fascinating species. It gets many of its names because of its fruit, which readers can see on the ground around in the second photo of the other, neighboring tree and in close-up in the third photo (both the second and third are from fall 2023).

These two trees may have composed part of a hedge of trees that were used to corral livestock that previous lived where we now live. Neighbors have told us about animals kept in this area as recently as the 1960s-70s. The hedge probably didn’t constrain animals that recently, but I remember seeing were more such trees even as recently as we moved into the neighborhood.

Osage Orange near our back yard. Photo by John Wills Lloyd, Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

Another Osage Orange (at right) with fruits scattered around it. Photo by John Wills Lloyd, Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

Osage Orange fruits, showing a bit of dirt from having been lying on the ground. Photo by John Wills Lloyd, Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

Flashes

I want to acknowledge readers who took the time to write a comment on a post: Annmarie U., Mike N., and Jim K. These notes are worth reading, if any readers missed them.

Also, thanks to Rebecca B., Luann D., Jane B., Adelaide D., Clayton K., Martin M., Dan H., Pei H., and everyone whom I missed for dropping likes on posts—there were at least 15 last week. Special thanks to those who dropped multiple likes (I’m looking right at you, Adelaide and Jane).

And welcome to some new folks in the neighborhood: Jennifer D, Brandi S., Garret F., Marcy S., Kaleigh P., and Marissa K. In addition, here are extra thanks to readers who referred these folks to SET.

List of posts

Your after-the-fact table of contents:

• Special Education Today newsletter 3(38): Do you need a quick review of the week of 11 March 2024?

• ADHD meds connected with lower risk of mortality: Is this a relief to some folks?

• HB, B. F. Skinner: Should we have learned more?

• World Down Syndrome Day 2024: What's this?

• Friday photos—Marcy Stein got away!: What do special educators do for fun?

• Sold a Story en Español: Could this be good for parents of bi-lingual students?

• Fred's got more FI notes: Is this the best means of finding out what's new in behavioral literature?

As usual, I remind readers that they are welcome to visit SET on the Web to check on whether there are new posts at any time. One doesn’t have to wait for this newsletter to see them.

Commentary

Jim K. commented on the post from 21 March. His point is one worthy of a read (or reread, as the case may be):

As is true of all of us, those with Down vary enormously in what they can and can't do. Assuming that what one individual with DS can do shows us what is possible for any is as wrong as making a similar assumption about those without that genetic variation--or any disability or the absence of any. We must be on guard against both prejudice and unreasonable expectations.

Now I do not think that it was created as a response to Jim’s comment, but I thought it worthwhile to point to this video staring Madison Tevlin and created by Coordown of Italy that’s been making the rounds (warning: contains an f-bomb):

So, folks, have a margarita, a “virgin margarita,” or a frosty limeade (your choice) and reflect about assumptions. As you drive home, please remember drive carefully and to wear your seatbelts and strongly encourage others to do so, too. And, please assume that it is possible to teach students well, regardless of whether that have any special education needs.

Peace,

JohnL

SET editor guy