If you have not read my book for more detailed info or any of these blog posts or have not watched any of the news coverage surrounding a shooting that happened on January 6, 2023 in a school in Newport News, Va you may just think, as did the naive editor of the The Current in 1998, that this is just yesterday's news.
Think again.
We are celebrating 250 years of our Constitutional Republic this year. It is important for a free nation to remember its history. A free nation involves work to remain a Constitutional Republic. Sometimes the violent mob of oppression wants to ruin it. Sometimes only one voice can ruin it when the devils are in the details and have weak, mob followers.
Have you heard people deliberately misinterpret our Constitution? If not, were you asleep during the Covid lockdowns? Any info on what is going on in NYC today?
Staying alert is important. Think.
Safe schools take work too, and lots of it. Our taxpayer dollars should work for all of our children, not against them.
It seems the intent of IDEA in 1975 was to have school services benefit all children and their civil rights. I wonder if it was a response in 1975 to the decision in 1973 that blew up the rights of the unborn human, especially if it was found to be a human with disabilities. Maybe the IDEA advocates, researchers, and authors had seen disturbing patterns so they acted peacefully and in a proactive manner to benefit all children.
The law's intent is for civil rights for all children who attend school. Some have special needs.
****NO One has special rights.****
This is where the rub is; in illegal misinterpretation of the law. If a child meets certain criteria a child may receive services that other children do not need. IDEA is basically a funding source for services and guidance in implementation. It is good fruit in the correct hands.
Misinterpretation and implementation in the wrong hands has been a problem since 1975.
The principal's spin on the law in my case was deliberately misleading. She was not stupid, but she was a vindictive person. (May still be.)
Since I found the shooting of a first grade teacher by a six year old student, in Newport News, Va, on January 6, 2023 eerily similar to what could have happened in my class, I have paid attention to the news and so far one civil case and one, now dismissed, criminal trial.
My book again, outlines the details so I am not repeating them here. The court cases and some testimony in both trials has led me to a similar conclusion. IGNORANCE of the intent of IDEA was ignored and/or intentionally used to allow a violent child to get to a point of almost committing murder. My other blog posts explain.
I am listing resources here so review the links. These websites summarize and list the law and guidance.
If you find in any part of the law that it states another student has special rights, more rights then another child, or can, with legal protection, hurt or threaten another student, call your represenratives. Make peaceful, advocacy noise.
The Least Restrictive Environment for learning; how one needy student or one vindicative administrator can ruin a students elementary experience..a deeper dive. Stay tuned.
Marian R. Carlino
May 30, 2026