F.A.P.E vs. F.A.D.

So where do I start to tell this story? Well, I will start with this: as educators, and especially as a special educator, it is our duty to provide education in the least restrictive environment possible for our students. We have an acronym for this: F.A.P.E. It stands for Free Appropriate Public Education. It basically means that all students are entitled to receive an education that is most appropriate for their needs in the (free) public school setting.

Anyway, last night we were watching the Battle of the JayWalk All-Stars on Jay Leno. One of the contestants was/is going to school at Bemidji State to be a teacher, and she wasn't very smart (probably why she was on). So, after a few questions, Jay asked her what she was going to be teaching (since she was getting all the questions wrong), and she said Kindergarten. Then she added, "Like coloring and stuff."

I looked at Sonny and said, "Kindergarten is not like it was when we were little. All the things that we knew by the end of the year, they have to come in knowing nowadays. Lukin has to know his colors and numbers and letters and stuff before he goes to Kindergarten or he will be behind."

Sonny said, "We didn't learn that stuff until 1st grade."

I asked him what he did learn in kindergarten and he told me that they played most of the time. Sometimes they were read stories, but mostly they played. I looked at him and asked if he had naptime. He nodded.

I got the giggles at this point. I said, "So what was it? Like free daycare? Instead of the F.A.P.E. that we have to worry about now, you were getting F.A.D. (Free Appropriate Daycare) at school?" I couldn't get over the fact that his 'school' in kindergarten really did sound a lot like daycare instead of education. I kept giggling as I thought of the parents dropping their kids off for an afternoon of 'learning' how to play and take a nap. Seriously. He said that his kindergarten teacher just retired a few years ago. I am not surprised. How stressful would teaching be if the kids nap and play all afternoon long? Sheesh.