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12/10
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24
Yehudah and Yeshivas Darchei Torah.
In addition, about 150 parents came
Staff Writer
back to Akiva that night for Lavoie's
presentation on reducing family stress.
orget that class-wide
The programs were organiZed by
spelling bee. Don't require
the AJE's Opening the Doors Special
the kids in gym class to race
Education Partnership Program, with
each other around the track,
sponsorship from Hillel's Jay M. and
and never, never post everyone's test
Dorothy S. Rosenthal Teacher
scores on the bulletin board.
Institute Fund.
The only people motivated by corn-
"One of the most unfair things we
petition are those who have a chance
do
is try to judge motivation," Lavoie
of winning, Rick Lavoie told teachers
said.
"We try to measure motivation
at the Agency for Jewish Education of
by productivity"
Metropolitan Detroit's third annual
"Your child needs to work harder,"
day school conference.
teachers will frequently say to parents
For the other students, required
of low-achieving students. A teacher
competition is an immediate turn-off,
confessed to Lavoie after the meeting,
he said. In addition, it's a source of
"I always thought it's better than say-
unnecessary anxiety.
ing, Your child is stupid.'"
We do our best work when we
But is this fair to children who
compete against ourselves, not against
already
are working as hard as they
others," Lavoie said.
can? Frequently, these children have
People will frequently say students
disabilities that make learning in tradi-
need competition to prepare them for
tional ways difficult, if not impossible,
"the real world." But, Lavoie pointed
Lavoie said.
out, once we are no longer in school,
Every student is different, and
we compete in sports, employment or
those
with learning disabilities differ
other areas on a voluntary basis. Most
from
each
other as well.
situations require cooperation rather
"Sometimes administrators will tell
than individual competition, and that's
me all of their learning-disabled stu-
what is valued in American society.
dents need a study skills class, or none
"For my money, this is the most
of them take foreign languages," Lavoie
cooperative society in mankind," he said.
said. "Actually, quite a few of our stu-
Lavoie is an award-winning educator
dents are gifted in foreign languages."
whose books, videos and television
Lavoie warned parents and teachers
appearances have made the most current
to
beware
of therapies and programs
ideas on special education accessible to
"that say they will cure all your chil-
the general public. He received a White
dren's problems."
House citation for his efforts on behalf
He said, "Kids with learning disabil-
of students with learning disabilities.
ities
have neurological disabilities.
He has provided consulting services
That's
the only part of the body that
to more than 400 school systems
doesn't
repair itself. When you have a
throughout the United States and
neurological
problem, you have it for
worked with organizations from the
life.
It's
a
life,
language and living prob-
to
Walt
Disney
New York Times
lem that affects you 24 hours a day."
Studios. Since 1990, he has been exec-
The good news, Lavoie said, is that
utive director of Riverview School in
knowledge,
understanding and flexi-
Cape Cod, Mass. The independent res-
bility
can
help
all students reach their
idential school serves children, youths
full
potential.
and adults with moderate special needs.
AJE special education director Anita
For his Nov. 16 talk at Yeshivat
Naftaly
said feedback from Lavoie's
Akiva, Lavoie focused on motivating
appearances was overwhelmingly posi-
the reluctant learner, a subject
tive, from teachers and parents alike.
applicable to special education and
"The evening session was supposed
regular-education students alike.
to
end
at 9:30, but he didn't get out
About 300 teachers attended, repre-
until
10:30,"
Naftaly said. "People
senting Akiva, Bais Menachem
were
crowding
around, waiting to talk
ACademy, Hillel Day School of
17
with
him."
Metropolitan Detroit, Yeshiva Beth
DIANA LIEBERMAN
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