Happenings at the ASCD Conference
From the April 2001 Education newsletter.


What do differentiation, the First Amendment, and nurturing adolescent souls have in common? They were featured topics at the recent Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) Annual Conference in Boston. With over 15,000 attendees and over 600 sessions, this year's conference was certainly one to remember. For those of you who did not attend the conference, here is a summary of the main topics addressed.

The opening session featured Bertice Berry, a self-acknowledged troubled adolescent who used song and humor to tell her story of how a caring teacher helped her turn her life around. Her message to the audience was simple: teachers can make a difference. She had struggled in high school until an attentive teacher encouraged her to pursue higher education.

Another popular speaker was Rabbi Harold Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People. Drawing on the recent events at Santana and Columbine high schools, Kushner emphasized the need to make schools a safe place for students, both physically and emotionally. This includes protecting students from bullies as well as teaching children that each of them are special people with something important to contribute to the community.

Equally important, said Rabbi Kushner, is teaching children to cope with failure so that they can accept their limitations and realize their strengths.

Other speakers included former astronaut Mae Jemison, who called for more hands-on science education, and teacher/author Carol Ann Tomlinson who appealed to teachers to be cognizant of the differing needs and abilities of their students and differentiate instruction in their classrooms to address those needs.

Finally, ASCD and the First Amendment Center announced they are teaming up to support and advance the teaching and application of First Amendment principles in America's public schools. This includes creating consensus guidelines, encouraging curriculum reforms, and educating teachers and administrators on the significance of the First Amendment Freedoms.

We would like to thank everyone who visited the Brookes booth at the conference. We observed that there was more interest in curriculum modifications for students with disabilities than in past years and we look forward to seeing everyone at next year's conference in San Antonio, TX.

For an example of a successful inclusive high school where all students learn, no matter their ability, check out Adolescents and Inclusion: Transforming Secondary Schools, by Anne M. Bauer & Glenda Myree Brown.