John Merrow is back on the air this month with another look at special education.
A previous edition of “The Merrow Report,” a monthly Public Broadcasting Service series on young people and education issues, drew wide attention for its reporting on the links between an attention-deficit-disorder support group and the company that makes the most widely prescribed drug for the disorder. (See Education Week, Oct. 18, 1995.)
The new show provides a broader look at educational services for children with disabilities. The episode, “What’s So Special About Special Education?,” begins airing on public-television stations May 10 at 10 p.m. Eastern time. Viewers should check local listings.
The hourlong show includes an interview with former President Ford, who was in office in 1975 when Congress passed the first comprehensive law addressing the education of disabled children. Mr. Ford reveals that he considered vetoing the Education of the Handicapped Act because he had concerns about the scope of the law. But support in Congress was so strong that the president believed a veto would be overridden.
Reauthorization of the law, now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, is under consideration in the current Congress. (See story, page 16.)
Mr. Merrow examines the current controversy over the full inclusion of children with disabilities in regular public school classrooms.
The documentary suggests that while the federal law has achieved its goal of ensuring disabled children access to public schools, it has fallen short of delivering a high-quality education for these children.
Education Week is now available on CompuServe.
Members of the Columbus, Ohio-based on-line service can access a selection of news articles, special reports, and opinion pieces from Education Week and Teacher Magazine by typing “Go Edweek.”
The site also includes employment advertising from the two publications, a glossary of frequently misunderstood education terms, and the Education Week Forum, where the public can discuss timely education issues with guest educators, policymakers, and other experts in the field.
For more information, call CompuServe at (800) 524-3388, ext. 805.
--Mark Walsh
e-mail: mwalsh@epe.org
