Think about what the author did to find the teaching method that most suited her children. What actions might you have taken, either similar or different?
2.
Why do you think the "experts"—at schools, at camps, in therapeutic settings—insist on communicating only with the child, avoiding or expressly forbidding conversation with the parents? What impact does this have on the author? How would you respond if you were in her place?
How has the book affected your understanding of the terms "emotionally disturbed" and "learning disabled"? Have the definitions and usage of these terms changed since the sixties, as far as you know? If yes, how and why have they changed?
Teachers often have to balance the needs of special needs children with those of the rest of their classmates. Discuss the pros and cons of "mainstreaming" special needs children versus placing them in separate classes or schools. Consider the factors that administrators, teachers, and parents face in determining individual student placements.
