When Slow Is Fast Enough: Educating the Delayed Preschool Child

Rating:
Summary: Essential reading
Review: Goodman's detailed observations of "early intervention" projects and her thoughtful and historically-informed analysis suggest powerfully that the current policy of trying to accelerate "delayed" children in order to keep up with their non-disabled peers, in fact prevents them from learning and exploring at their own pace. She painstakingly documents the way in which unrealistic expectations and demands lead to a situation in which almost continual prompting, directing, "cheating" on behalf of children, and even straightfoward physical manipulation are used to get children to "go through the motions" of a "normal" schedule, regardless of their incomprehension or lack of interest in it. A subtle, restrained book which quietly demolishes educational orthodoxy on this topic.

Rating:
Summary: the best philosophy i've read on this subject
Review: The book contends that the current process of force feeding specific developemental goals into children who are already having a hard time meshing into our fast paced society, may do more harm than good. I agree with the general theory that true learning can only be acquired through individual discovery, trail and error, rather than repeated drilling and very little if any chance for exploration. My only question is WHERE does this scenario exist for our handicapped children???

Rating:
Summary: Dangerous Information in the Wrong Hands
Review: This book was brought to my attention by a parent of a young child with significant special needs. As the Early Childhood Coordinator responsible for making recommendations to parents, I was eager to acquire this book. I read it with many mis-givings. Yes, there are some accuracies regarding our current programming options for serving these young children. However, in my set of circumstances, this book led to a family rejecting all services for a very needy young lady. This book must be read in context with others. A balanced view needs to be presented.