JOHNNY'S SUCH A BRIGHT BOY, WHAT A SHAME HE'S RETARDED

by Kate Long ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 1, 1977

A year in the life of a special education supervisor, used as a springboard to argue for a more precise definition of retardation, an end to destructive classifications, and the value of mainstreaming most children. During her year in Copper County, ""Maggie Callahan"" discovered that the assignment of children to special ed classes was highly arbitrary, and her brief, embattled tenure there is reminiscent of those books of the Sixties--by Kohl, Kozol, Haskins, Decker--in which an intelligent, responsive person reluctantly, even unwittingly, confronts The System. Visiting classrooms, she met lively, alert children with perceptual or behavioral problems who were humiliated by their presence at Gateway School (""Dummy Tech"") or in dumping-ground classes in other schools. Often they were ""six-hour retarded children"": low-scoring on IQ tests and formal academic work but performing well considering family background or poor school environment. Copper County (pop. 2500) had its vested interests and inflexible precedents which Maggie, no diplomat, ignored. Despite her efforts--to requisition supplies, to initiate teacher workshops, to hire a competent psychologist--she found resentment from teachers, mixed signals from the superintendent, and hostile resistance from the Title I administrator who felt pre-empted. In addition to these territorial adults, there are more sensible ones and several children who demonstrate what commitment, a little kindness, and individualized attention can accomplish. The fictionalized approach enables Long--who was a special ed supervisor--to explore the issues and dramatize them in human terms, avoiding too-sharp contrasts without obscuring her position. A personalized exposition from a strong advocate.

Pub Date: July 1, 1977

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1977

Categories: NONFICTION