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Montgomery Gazette February 25, 2004 - Gazette Letters



Fishman backed


As 12 current and one recently retired teacher in the public school system, we urge voters to cast their ballots for Sheldon Fishman, who is running for the District 4 seat on the school board.



Both of the two active candidates in the District 4 race are concerned about educational inequities and are committed to raising outcomes for disadvantaged students. As teachers in the field, however, we are convinced that the approach advocated by Sheldon Fishman is the one to follow.



We agree that all students should be challenged. But we also believe, as Sheldon does, that "one size does not fit all." Students' needs vary, and to meet those needs, we need a range of flexible elementary school groupings, special education placements, honors classes, and support classes. Research indicates that student performance (especially of disadvantaged students) improves markedly if content-rich materials are tailored by performance data to provide an appropriate level of challenge. This is the approach Sheldon advocates.



Julie Greenberg, Chevy Chase



The writer is chairwoman of the Sheldon Fishman for Board of Education Steering Committee. The letter was signed by 11 other current and one retired school teachers.

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