By: Casey Cummins

Casey Cummins — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:28:58 +0000

After reading the syndicated column about web rumors and candidates in the October 24th edition, I find no greater irony than a cut and paste of an education outline of “special schools” by a Lynn Shaffer in your letters to the editor. This information was out en mass on the internet on Sept. 4th and debunked within 24 hours, yet it still lives on the web. According to the non-partisan rumor debunking Factcheck.org. Soledad O’brien made this accusatory statement without explanation on CNN and it followed that inboxes around the world recieved this information. Well first off, Special Schools are not in the same category as “intensive needs students” which is the term that encompasses the developmentally disabled in Alaska’s education system. Secondly, Governor Palin signed a bill in March of 2008 that raised spending on “intensive needs students” from $26,900 to $ 73,840. And lastly the 5 million dollar drop in line item deduction for special schools wasn’t a loss in funding it was transferred into its own budget line, as per its not an academic line, but a special projects line. As to the main point, the rumors on the web that carry some semblance of truth are the ones most damaging to either side without proper investigation. Even when debunked its the process of forwarding and saying something enough it might be true that causes the most harm.

Comments on: Letters: Oct. 24, 2008

By: Casey Cummins