Mark Savel

Teacher, I found this flower over the weekend and I want to know what made it grow.

Look, you're in special education. You have an IEP, it's the law, you see.
And flowers are not in your IEP.

You have short term objectives in math and reading.
You have long range goals in self-help and getting along with others.
But flowers are not in your IEP.

But teacher, I really want to know what makes the flowers grow.

Look, your mother and father and the principal and I wrote your IEP and then we signed it, that's the law, you see.
And flowers are not in your IEP!

Your IEP has an evaluation component. It's the law, you see.
And I want you to reach your objectives and attain your goals.

There's no time for anything else, and besides....
Flowers are not in your IEP.

Please teacher, I'd rather learn about flowers than math or reading.

OK, if you insist, but this will be a significant change in your IEP,
and your parents will have to agree. It's the law, you see.

A month passed, a conference was held, the IEP was revised, procedural safeguards were observed, and all the necessary paperwork completed.
It's the law, you see.

And flowers are now in your IEP.

But teacher, my flower is dead and I found a frog over the weekend and now I want to know what made it grow.

Look, your mother and father and the principal and I revised your IEP and then we signed it, that's the law, you see.
And flowers are now in your IEP.

You have short term objectives in math, reading, and FLOWERS.
You have long range goals in self-help and getting along with others.

But frogs are not in your IEP!