Letter: In defense of students on IEPs following candidate Krol’s remarks
To the editor: I attended the United Educators of Pittsfield’s Oct. 19 Mayoral Q&A session so I could learn about the mayoral candidates’ positions on educational matters.
During his opening statement, mayoral candidate John Krol made the following remark: “There’s three different types of students in every single classroom. There are high performers, there are middle of the road and then there are those who are on IEPs, and those kids that also can be disruptions in our classrooms.”
As a person on the autism spectrum and as a former student who was on an individualized education plan throughout most of my time in the Pittsfield Public Schools, I find this remark highly offensive not only to me but to our students on IEPs in our district.
Sure there are some students on IEPs with behavioral issues, but there are IEP students who are on them to receive academic support, there are some who are on them to receive social and emotional support, and there are some who have physical disabilities and are on them for extra support. The needs of IEP students differ greatly between each student and some, like me, have been known to be very high academic achievers. To paint a wide brush that these students are all the same and that they are not high achievers or even “middle of the road” is ableist — plain and simple.
What does it say for our students on IEPs for the highest person in power in the city, the mayor, to say that IEP students are a separate category from “high achievers” and lumped together with disruptive students? It says that these students will never be able to reach their full potential because they are on an IEP, and that is downright false.
All School Committee members have a duty to all our students, including our students on IEPs, to support them adequately and equitably so they can do their best through their educational journey. This statement goes against this fundamental principle and I feel it is my duty to the students that I will represent if elected to say something about these hurtful and offensive remarks.
I sincerely hope that John Krol shows true leadership and retracts these offensive remarks. Our students deserve a mayor who values inclusion over exclusion for our IEP students and wants to see them thrive in our school system.
William Garrity, Pittsfield
The writer was Taconic High School Class of 2022 valedictorian and is a candidate for Pittsfield School Committee.
Letter: My response to a critique of my debate comment about IEPs
To the editor: It has been brought to my attention that a candidate for school committee, Mr. Garrity, was critical of statements I made at the recent teacher’s forum in a recent letter to the editor. (“Letter: In defense of students on IEPs following candidate Krol’s remarks,” Eagle, Nov. 1.)
While I fully appreciate the writer’s opinion, the statement he is quoting is taken completely out of context. I by no means was associating children with individualized education plans with disruption. I understand that he is a strong supporter of my opponent, and that there is a motive to paint me in a negative light.
I am a dad of five children in the public school system. I am very well aware of IEPs and their purpose. I should have chosen my words more carefully. However, the fact of the matter is, many parents have contacted me throughout this campaign to express their concerns with regard to how their children’s IEPs are not being serviced properly. This is why I raised it as an issue. I believe there is a direct correlation to lack of staffing and resources in the classrooms and the concerns parents are conveying to me. Clearly, this is a real issue and why it is imperative that we place emphasis on providing more resources in the classrooms so that our children — all children — can be successful. I also encourage every parent to understand their rights and the rights of students with IEPs and advocate for appropriate services. In fact, even those parents who strongly advocate for their child have struggled to receive proper services. We need to do better.
I encourage Mr. Garrity to join me in this effort to address a critical issue impacting our families and our schools. Let’s get to the heart of the issue, be honest with what is really happening in our schools, and do the hard work to improve. That is the leadership our families and our community deserve from a mayor and a member of the School Committee.
John Krol, Pittsfield
The writer is a candidate for mayor of Pittsfield.