Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the Senate on September 4, 2007

Click here to view bill details.

why do we need a law for this? Is there some problem in the schools regarding the placement of twins? Or, do we have another legilator with way too much time on his hands?

indeed have way too much time on his hands. Mainly due to the fact that he refuses to support the things his constituents really need. How about equal funding for kids in schools. Mr. Garcia has missed 50+ votes this year in the senate and it is only September... He must be out golfing or something.

legislative solution to a problem that either does not exist or very rarely occurs. junk like this just clutters the lawbooks and takes attention and effort away from real problems that actually need fixing. not only that, it seeks to create yet another group of special-privilege citizens.

then the dems/socialists can hope to get the votes of yet another "group of special-privilege citizens" I wanna start a group. How about Normal Ignored Conservative Americans for What's Right?

How can you miss 50 votes? they only work @ 100 days a year as it is!! But that aside, why wouldn't a school district honor a parent's wishes? My sister has twins and she's never had a problem. Of course, we're not n the big city... If the school won't honor the parent's request, go to the school board!

I think it's a school office decision. I think if they are identical it could cause problems, and it's wise to keep them in 2 classes. Sometimes, I think the parent just doesn't want to help with two different sets of homework. Oh, my, did I say that OUTLOUD.

Simply sets up another class of citizens who by accident of nature qualify for special privileges over and above those available to the general population. That's reason enough to reject it, right there.

Being a twin myself I think that the parents request should be respected. First off, I know that when split up, my sister and I had extreme anxiety and therefore, struggled academically. I also came from a school that had the most sets of twins in the state of Michigan at the time and this trend was very common. Virtually all of us, had a hard time in school once separated from our twin. There are also MANY studies that support this evidence. Also, couldn't a parent use FAPE or even IDEA if a school denies the request to put multiples in the same class? Isn't that free appropriate public education? I am a teacher as well and I do not see what the big deal is. Yes it may be confusing having identicals in the class but work with it! Have them sit on opposite ends of the room or something. I think that we need to look at the best interest of the students, not the parent or the teachers...

FAPE and IDEA would not apply to twins as those are special education issues. When parents request their multiples be placed together, their request should be honored when possible. However, it is not always possible to do this so it should not be mandated.

IDEA would not cover twins. That is special education law. FAPE would not really apply either because they would be getting the free, appropriate public education regardless if they were in the same class or in separate classes. This is really legislation in search of a problem. I've never heard of a school refusing to consider a parent's request regarding twins. However, there are times when it is not feasable to place twins in the same classroom. This should not be mandated.

Why should twins be separated soley for the fact thaey share a birth day? Parents are the ones who know their children best, wouldn't it the choice be best made by the parents. Versus educators who have never met these children?? Yes their is a problem with this, I am fighting with my sons school district right now. I have been told they will be separated and that is final. My boys are only 3 years old, this would be the first time they would be separated. Why cause them undue stress by not onl;y putting them in a new and strange enviorment but also separating them? I have 4 sets of twins in my family 2 sets were forced separation 1 was not. The 2 sets that were separated had many issues from tears to regression in toilet training. I want the decision to be left with who knows their children best... Their parents! Also how can an issue regarding michigans children be said that it's no big deal and a waste of time!!!!!!! If it was your children you would not be saying that they have too much time on their hands to be descussing this issue or it's a waste of paper!!! Parents have to fight for the rights of their children - If we don't who else will!!

Should be handled on a case-by-case basis. The legislature oversteps bounds of common sense by specifying a one-size-fits -all solution to matters like this. Furthermore, this bill proposes to put parents of multiple birth offspring in a position of special advantage when it comes to requested classroom placement for their kids. There is no good reason that requests by parents of twins, etc., should take precedence over placement requests made by other parents.

This is a problem. schools think they know best. With no behavioral issues, the school wats to separate my twins even though I have stated since last year (kindergarten) that they must remain together. One of my twins is special needs and would be etrimental to both of them.

Why are we separating twins so that teachers don't have to worry about mixing their names up? Isn't the purpose of the educational board to determine what is best for the students, not necessarily the teacher? If it is best for the students to be together, then keep them together. It it is best for another set of multiples to separate, then separate. Parents are not asking for the right to choose one teacher over another - that would be beyone what other's get. They are asking to keep (or not to keep) their children in the same classroom so that the students can concentrate on learning without added issues.

Treat their children as cute pets rather than as developing individual human beings. Those who hysterically want to keep twin siblings together in the same classroom fit that description. Classroom assignments should be based upon what is best for the individual child, and not on some parent's warped sense of what is cute and convenient.

   Unless you are the parent of multiples, I really don't think you have an educated opinion, much less one that should be displayed with a poor attitude.

  Parents know what is ultimately best for their children.  An educator who does not know an individual child/children should not group all multible birth children together, and presume to know what is best for them.  Let the parents decide.  

 to the parents of multiples..

the public schools will do what the public schools want.

send your kids to PRIVATE SCHOOLS, that way you are ASSURED that your wishes will be taken into consideration.

 

 This legislation is not needed.  Parents of multiples are already allowed to request that their children be in the same class. By the way, parents of singletons are also allowed to request that their children be placed with (or away from) certain children. Please note, however, that the word is request, not demand. There are many factors involved in classroom placement. I have seen many sets of twins blossom when placed together and just as many blossom when placed apart. I have personally had brothers in my classroom together because the parent insisted upon it and it was a flaming disaster -- constant arguing, attempted fistfights.

I would also like the parents of the singletons out there to consider this. Imagine that this bill passes and the school now has no say in classroom placement for multiples. Your singleton child is in class, doing well, good relationship with the teacher, fits in well with the other kids in class. Unfortunately, your child happens to be the last one who registered for school in that class. This will become important in a minute. January rolls around and a set of twins moves into the district. Parent insists that they be together even though there is only 1 spot available in each class of that particular grade. Since this bill has passed, the parent of the twins gets his/her way and the twins are assigned to your child's class. Remember that your child was the last one registered. Guess who gets removed from the class he has been in since September and moved to the other class? You and your child are upset but you have no choice since this bill has passed.

 

 well said, mich...

but there IS a choice.

 yank your kid out of the public school and find a good private school to send them to instead. then your wishes WILL be respected.

crazycajun:

 well said, mich...

but there IS a choice.

 yank your kid out of the public school and find a good private school to send them to instead. then your wishes WILL be respected.

That choice only exists to the extent a decent private school is available in your area.  Not all private schools are quality schools.

Also, it is unsafe to assume all private schools will cater to whimsical requests or demands by the parents of children who attend.  The better private schools have pretty strict "in loco parentis" policies and traditions that may not quite jibe with today's self-absorbed attitudes and parenting.

 

 

 in my experience, the parent paying the bill is the one that PAYS THE RENT AND THE LIGHT BILLS. there ARE private schools that have a serious 'in loco parentis" problem, but they are usually military academies.

I NEVER SAID TO USE THE CLOSEST PRIVATE SCHOOL. i said FIND ONE. that means looking around.

one of the things vouchers would do is allow parents that live near poor public schools to go across town to go to a BETTER PUBLIC SCHOOL.

IF the schools are poor, and parents have no choice but to send their children to the poor school, then you are dominating, not just controlling their lives. if the schools are superior, and you don't give the parents the choice of whether or not to send their child to the MOST superior school, you are also dominating their lives.

the voucher program would pump more taxpayer money into the schools that are percieved as superior, and less into the schools that are percieved as poor. this MIGHT totally eliminate the poor schools through atrition.

if the parent believes in public education, he should have the right to send their children to the BEST public school, not just the closest.

yes, vouchers will DO THAT TOO...