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Education update ■ For Parents, Educators & Students ■ AUGUST 2008guest EDITORIALVision & Hearing Imperatives in EducationReston, VASam Ash Music StoresTo the Editor:I enjoyed reading this article. It brought backmany memories of my father, a violin teacherwho made many purchases at the Sam Ash storein Brooklyn for himself and his students. Thiswas during the depression and he would take thebus to get to the store. My father died in 1948.I still have his violin, which I intend to haverepaired and donate to a worthy student.Roy HorowitzReston, VAUnited Arab EmiratesFreedom Writers: Erin GruwellTo the Editor:I write this email to say thanks to you, I saw theFreedom Writers movie. It was really amazing,and I enjoyed watching it. I want to know moreabout this book; we don’t have it in our countryUAE. I hope you can help me.Mouza26United Arab EmiratesNew YorkSo You Want To Be A Film MajorTo the Editor:When I get to college I want to be a film major.I think it will be something I’d really love andenjoy doing while making a living out of film forsure! Great, interesting, inspiring and encouragingarticle.Jamir WebbNew York, NYBy William C. Thompson, Jr.& Rosemary ClemensWith the increased use and popularity ofadvanced electronics and technology, the demandson our young children’s eyes are greater than atany time in history. Yet, national data show thatnearly 25% of students have undetected visionproblems with many requiring glasses by the timethey reach high school. While one in four childrenhave an undetected vision problem, 85% donot receive eye exams before starting school.In 1992, comprehensive eye tests were given to322 students in three of New York City’s lowestperforming schools. Some 40% required correctivelenses.Studies show a clear correlation between goodvision, literacy and achievement. In one report,eye movement therapy helped sixth-grade studentswith reading disabilities improve theirlearning rate from 60% to 400% in six months.Treatable hearing problems that remain undetectedcan also impact a child’s ability to learn,making early identification, referral, and followupintervention imperative for students who havefailed hearing screenings.New York State currently mandates vision andhearing screenings for New York City publicschool students, and a Chancellor’s Regulationrequires screenings to be conducted for all studentsin seven different grades—starting inKindergarten—and for all new entrants. The NewYork City Dept. of Education, or DOE, and theDepartment of Health and Mental Hygiene areobligated to jointly provide these services.However, a new audit by the New York CityComptroller’s Office shows that many childrenare not being properly screened for vision andhearing problems. Specifically, the DOE’s performancedisplays an appalling lack of accountabilitywhen it comes to identifying vision andhearing problems that pose a significant risk toLETTERS TO THE EDITORAlbuquerque, NMKatie HaycockTo the Editor:This is for Ms. Haycock. I am interested inwhat schools you have worked with and theirsuccesses. I work with the Bureau of IndianEducation and am impressed with your work withLapwai Elementary School.Sue BementAlbuquerque, NMYakima, WAMalachy McCourt: From School Dropout toBestselling AuthorTo the Editor:I was curious as to what happened to FrankMcCourt’s family. Now I know about Malachy.I am absolutely amazed that children can surviveour children and their educational achievement.A comparison of the screenings conductedby the DOE and the Health Department showsthe disparity: while 94 percent of the HealthDepartment vision screenings were conducted,only 42 percent of the DOE screenings werelikewise undertaken.With hearing tests, the DOE fares even worse:while the Health Department again conducted94 percent of its screenings, the DOE completedonly 20 percent.Just as troublesome: there was limited followupto parents of students who failed the visionand hearing screenings. An astounding 69% ofcases requiring follow-up did not receive it.How many students are struggling unnecessarilyin New York City classrooms today, fallingbehind for lack of glasses or hearing aids,because the City has neither screened them norfollowed up on the cases of kids who failed theirscreenings?It is beyond dispute that poor vision and hearing,if left uncorrected, profoundly and permanentlyaffects a child’s ability to learn. The City’sfailure to provide these vital, mandatory screeningsis inexcusable.Thompson is the Comptroller for the City ofNew York. Clemens is the Executive Director ofthe New York Children’s Vision Coalition. #such horrid childhoods, and come out on top ofthe heap. Thumbs up to these Irish sons and tothis article!Wilda Miles GarvinYakima, WASeoul, KoreaSchool of Visual Arts: President David RhodesTo the Editor:I read in this article that SVA is currentlyrecruiting in China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan andIndia. I have questions and suggestions to Mr.David Rhodes, President, SVA. Could you pleasegive me his e-mail address for me to contact?Thanks.Chull-Young LeeSeoul, KoreaIn This IssueGuest Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . .2Spotlight on Schools . . . . . . 3-5, 9Special Education . . . . . . . . . . 6-7Medical Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Special: ANIMALS . . . . . . . 10-11Summer Adventures . . . . . . . . .12COVER STORY . . . . . . . . . . .13Colleges & Grad Schools . . . 14-21Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22Children’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . .23Education UpdateMailing Address:695 Park Avenue, Ste. E1509New York, NY 10065Email: ednews1@aol.comwww.EducationUpdate.comTel: 212-650-3552 Fax: 212-772-4769PUBLISHER & EDITOR IN CHIEF:Pola Rosen, Ed.D.ADVISORY COUNCIL:Mary Brabeck, Dean, NYU School ofEducation; Sheila Evans-Tranumn, Assoc.Comm. of Education, NYS; Charlotte K.Frank, Ph.D., Senior VP, McGraw-Hill; JoanFreilich, Ph.D., Trustee, Barnard College &College of New Rochelle; Andrew Gardner,Technology Teacher & Advisor, TheSchool at Columbia U.; Cynthia Greenleaf,Ph.D., Director, Partnerships, ChicagoPublic Schools; Augusta S. Kappner,Ph.D., President, Bank St. College;Bonnie Kaiser, Ph.D., Director, PrecollegeProgram, Rockefeller University; HaroldKoplewicz, M.D., Founder & Director,NYU Child Study Center; Ernest Logan,Pres., CSA; Cecilia McCarton, M.D., Dir.,The McCarton Center; Eric Nadelstern,CEO, Empowerment Schools, NYC;Alfred S. Posamentier, Ph.D., Dean, Schoolof Education, CCNY; Adam Sugerman,Publisher, Palmiche Press; Laurie Tisch,Chair, Center for Arts EducationASSOCIATE EDITORS:Heather Rosen, Adam Sugerman,Rob WertheimerASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER:Justine RiveraGUEST COLUMNISTS:Mayor Michael Bloomberg, RosemaryClemens, Public Advocate BetsyGotbaum, Dr. Carole G. Hankin, KennethKantorowitz, Zachary Kukoff, NathanMarcus, Catherine A. McClave, TracyKramer Seckler, Dawn Papandrea, AlfredPosamentier, Ph.D., Anita Reetz, SandraPriest Rose, Benjamin Seckler, ComptrollerWilliam C. Thompson, Jr., Lydia WinklerSTAFF WRITERS:Jacob Appel, J.D., Judith Aquino, StevanneAuerbach, Ph.D., Joan Baum, Ph.D., AlbertoCepeda, Dorothy Davis, Gillian Granoff,Richard Kagan, Sybil Maimin, MarthaMcCarthy, Ph.D., Joy Resmovits, EmilySherwood, Ph.D., Marisa Suescun, LisaWinklerBOOK REVIEWERS:Harris Healy III, Merri Rosenberg,Selene VasquezMEDICAL EDITOR:Herman Rosen, M.D.MODERN LANGUAGE EDITOR:Adam SugermanMOVIE & THEATER REVIEWS:Jan AaronMUSIC EDITOR:Irving M. SpitzART DIRECTOR:Neil SchuldinerADVERTISING DEPARTMENT:Martin Lieberman, Manager;Richard Kagan, Chris RowanINTERNS: Naima Karp, Karla Reynado,Reni Shulman,Education Update is published monthly by Education Update, Inc.All material is copyrighted and may not be printed without expressconsent of the publisher.POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:Education Update, 695 Park Avenue, Ste. E1509New York, NY 10065-5024Subscription: Annual $30.Copyright © 2008 Education UpdateEducation Update is an independent newspaper