Very interesting story. I've been a teacher for the last 14 years, and I have dealt with many special education issues. I believe this is just an early indication of things to come with the influence of the special education lobby. The big problem is that it sets up a direct conflict between NCAA rules and a court order. Ole Miss is in a very touchy situation no matter what they do. Excerpts and link.

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060831/SPORTS030103/60831030

Ole Miss recruit Powe likely to enroll Friday

By Robbie Neiswanger and Rusty Hampton
[email protected]; [email protected]


OXFORD — Ole Miss football recruit Jerrell Powe was granted a temporary restraining order today in Lafayette County Chancery Court, possibly clearing the way for the star defensive tackle to enroll in school and play football this season.

Ole Miss announced last week that Powe, a learning disabled student who played at Wayne County High School in Mississippi and Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia, was ruled ineligible to receive scholarship aid or play football at Ole Miss this season. That ruling came from the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse, an Iowa-based firm that certifies the eligibility of all NCAA freshmen athletes....

....Shirley Powe said in the documents that as a single mother who worked to support her family she was not able to help her son with his homework.

“I didn’t know until he was almost finished (with high school) he wasn’t getting the education he should have gotten,” Shirley Powe said in court papers. “Coach Boyles and Mr. Crager helped him at least get enough schooling to be able to go to college.
“Jerrell really is a good child but he just can’t read. Please give him this chance to attend Ole Miss.”

There has got to be some middle ground. A talented football player who can't read should have the chance to follow his dream. That's what schools in the SEC are for.

There has got to be some middle ground. A talented football player who can't read should have the chance to follow his dream. That's what schools in the SEC are for.
Oh, this should be good.

Oh, this should be good.

Oh, as for me, I'm just going to ignore the comment.

I think the special education aspect is far more interesting than still another thread on that topic.

Did Ole Miss know that Powe can't read? And as an aside, I don't care if you are a single mother raising a child, how do you no know your kid can't read? I don't understand that.

The article raises some interesting questions. What kind of learning disability does he have? And why wasn't it caught until he was almost out of high school? That whole thing sounds fishy to me, and I'm not surprised the NCAA said no. It'll be interesting to see what happens.

The NCAA will keep him off the field. Ole Miss can't risk playing him in a game until the whole deal is settled anyway.

[QUOTE=JW;1236256....Shirley Powe said in the documents that as a single mother who worked to support her family she was not able to help her son with his homework.

“I didn’t know until he was almost finished (with high school) he wasn’t getting the education he should have gotten,” Shirley Powe said in court papers. “Coach Boyles and Mr. Crager helped him at least get enough schooling to be able to go to college.
“Jerrell really is a good child but he just can’t read. Please give him this chance to attend Ole Miss.”[/QUOTE]

So she wasn't involved at ALL with what was going on with her son's education? Am I the only one tired of the single mom excuses (everyone works, but it seems like people manage to pay attention to the children they have)? I'm a little confused on the not learning to read. How is he graduated high school not learning to read, but managed to somehow get accepted into college?

[QUOTE=JW;1236256....Shirley Powe said in the documents that as a single mother who worked to support her family she was not able to help her son with his homework.

“I didn’t know until he was almost finished (with high school) he wasn’t getting the education he should have gotten,” Shirley Powe said in court papers. “Coach Boyles and Mr. Crager helped him at least get enough schooling to be able to go to college.
“Jerrell really is a good child but he just can’t read. Please give him this chance to attend Ole Miss.”[/QUOTE]

So she wasn't involved at ALL with what was going on with her son's education? Am I the only one tired of the single mom excuses (everyone works, but it seems like people manage to pay attention to the children they have)? I'm a little confused on the not learning to read. How is he graduated high school not learning to read, but managed to somehow get accepted into college?

If someone can't read after high school, they're either way too limited to live on their own (in a college environment), or they just never went to school, in which case, they don't belong in college.

This student is a special education student. Under federal special education rules, the student gets accommodations, or help, in school. The nature of the accommodations and what they mean are controversial within the education community. There is a strong special education lobby that has helped mold rules that allow Powe, for example, to graduate from high school while being unable to read. Powe got a 'reader' to read and likely explain what was read to him. You and I know that Powe isn't doing the reading, but the special education community would tell you Powe really is reading, with an accommodation, i.e., a reader. Lots of students get through high school this way, with the weight of federal law behind them. Power is just the most famoust example at this time.

So if his accommodations say he gets a reader, then he really doesn't have to be able to read or, frankly, to learn how to read. That may make no sense to most people, but it does to the special education lobby.

Special education law is starting to have an impact at the university level, and you will see more cases like this.

So this is how Powe got to college while not being able to read. Through special education accommodations that create the illusion of helping special kids.

He should just go play semi-pro ball. If he's good he will improve enough to where he can go pro. Eric Swann did just that (but as far as I know, he can read.)

I can't wait to hear this kid's score on the Wunderlic...

Not to poke fun at special education JW, but will we begin to see players on the educational fringe of not qualifying start playing the "special ed" card?

You and I know that Powe isn't doing the reading, but the special education community would tell you Powe really is reading, with an accommodation, i.e., a reader.


For the love of....I think things were better when we called these people "stupid". At least then they could prepare for a realistic career as an auto mechanic or plumber (fields where one can do VERY well by the way), instead of wasting everyone's time with college.

Oh, as for me, I'm just going to ignore the comment.

I think the special education aspect is far more interesting than still another thread on that topic.


Agreed. Part of my job is to diagnose learning disorders (in conjunction with a psychologist usually) and I was recently put under some pressure by a parent who was trying to get me to diagnose their child with dyslexia to explain his poor grades and help him re-gain his eligibility on his H.S. team (he was a very good player for a good team.) This is a very interesting area, that as you've said, has some very powerful lobbying going on.

For the love of....I think things were better when we called these people "stupid". At least then they could prepare for a realistic career as an auto mechanic or plumber (fields where one can do VERY well by the way), instead of wasting everyone's time with college.
The "interesting" aspect of this is he was a "VHT" ("Very Highly Touted" according to Phil Steele), one of the best defensive linemen coming out of high school 2 year ago. He committed to Ole Miss, which was celebrating a stellar recruiting class. Failing to qualify, he went to Hargrave.

He once again signed a LOI to Ole Miss and failed to qualify again.

I remember reading about Powe last year and again this year. This is the first time I've read about him not being able to read. Sounds fishy to me.

Agreed. Part of my job is to diagnose learning disorders (in conjunction with a psychologist usually) and I was recently put under some pressure by a parent who was trying to get me to diagnose their child with dyslexia to explain his poor grades and help him re-gain his eligibility on his H.S. team (he was a very good player for a good team.) This is a very interesting area, that as you've said, has some very powerful lobbying going on.

Interesting. One of my brothers is a school psychologist, and part of his job has to do with evaluating students for inclusion in special education programs. And one part of the deal is parents may get government checks for such disabilities. In Louisiana, they are called "crazy checks," and some parents indeed coach their kids in an attempt to get them to qualify for crazy checks.

I've taught for 14 years following an Army career, and I have worked with a lot of special education kids in regular classes. Some do very well. In fact you might never know they had a learning disability if no one told you. Others with more profound problems really do struggle.

And I have had my share of battles with the special educaiton lobby. It generally comes down to a conflict between teachers who want to push the kids to do as much as they can on their own, and special education specialists who think pushing the kids is wrong, and who want to do all their work for them. I once was told I didn't care about children because I put red marks on a special education kid's test. I was accused of destroying his self-esteem. The view of the person telling me this was that the kid should be given A's no matter what he did on his tests and should in the end be given a diploma. And in my old school district, the superintendent supported that view. That is just one reason I moved to my current district, which has a much more realistic view of these issues and is much better in many other ways.

As for that one kid, I was told he couldn't read. I found out he could. But I was never allowed to challenge him. They did all his reading for him and basically took his tests for him and then claimed he was making great progress. That is the kind of thing I think happened to Powe.

I know all about the crazy check. I'd say on average I have at least 3 patients a day who come to my office seeking a crazy check. About 1 in 3 are stupid enough to tell me that is why they are coming to my office.

A few questions:
Is it true that the costs of operating a special education department at a public school is astounding?

How capable are special education student competing in the real world, in general?

If Ole Miss was a Private school, would it be different? Or does a state vs. private school issue not matter?


20/20 had a show last Friday on myths of Education in America. They found treid to show that Public schools' methods vs. a Huntington Learning Center-type program. The learning center improved his reading level by 2 grades. Are public schools antique to fix how they are improving programs?

I know all about the crazy check. I'd say on average I have at least 3 patients a day who come to my office seeking a crazy check. About 1 in 3 are stupid enough to tell me that is why they are coming to my office.

EF,

What type of disabilities would be included?

I know all about the crazy check. I'd say on average I have at least 3 patients a day who come to my office seeking a crazy check. About 1 in 3 are stupid enough to tell me that is why they are coming to my office.

Lol, I KNOW you are in LA, too, but it didn't register when I wrote that.

EF,

What type of disabilities would be included?


It's a messed up system to say the least. I actually used to do disability evals to supplement my income, but became burnt out on them. However, I've seen people get checks (not from my evals, but from my colleagues evals) for diagnoses as relatively innocous as ADHD. Other diagnoses that can qualify (certainly there are others I'm not listing): Autism, Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar, Schizophrenia, etc. I'm still surprised that some kids are given disability checks for ADHD. I'm no longer surprised (just saddened) when parents come into my office trying to convince me (usually by coaching their kid) that their kid is schizophrenic.

A few questions:
Is it true that the costs of operating a special education department at a public school is astounding?

How capable are special education student competing in the real world, in general?

If Ole Miss was a Private school, would it be different? Or does a state vs. private school issue not matter?


20/20 had a show last Friday on myths of Education in America, and found treid to show that Public schools' methods vs. a Huntington Learning Center-type program improved his reading level by 2 grades. Are public schools antique to fix how they are improving programs?

Speaking not as a special education expert,

1. The costs can be astounding. In some cases 1-to-1 assistance, with an aide, a teacher, an interpreter, and/or a nurse. The district is basically supposed to provide all assistance necessary to the student. That includes students with physical, behavioral, psychological, and learning disabilities. And school districts are not fully reimbursed for these costs.

2. Special education students range from those fully capable of competing in the real world to those who are totally incapable. A disability can range from mild dyslexia to profound mental retardation.

3. On the last one, I may be wrong, but I would think any private university accepting federal funds would fall under provisisions of federal laws relating to special education.

Now EaglesFan27 can probably give you a better answer.

As for your last question on public schools, there is a wide range of difference in the quality of school districts and in programs offered. It would just depend on the state and district. In Louisiana, for example, we have some outstanding school districts -- I'm fortunate enough to be in one now -- and a full range of districts running the gamut from good to terrible (the pre-Katrina New Orleans school district was one of the worst in the nation) and progressive to stagnant.

Speaking not as a special education expert,

1. The costs can be astounding. In some cases 1-to-1 assistance, with an aide, a teacher, an interpreter, and/or a nurse. The district is basically supposed to provide all assistance necessary to the student. That includes students with physical, behavioral, psychological, and learning disabilities. And school districts are not fully reimbursed for these costs.

2. Special education students range from those fully capable of competing in the real world to those who are totally incapable. A disability can range from mild dyslexia to profound mental retardation.

3. On the last one, I may be wrong, but I would think any private university accepting federal funds would fall under provisisions of federal laws relating to special education.

Now EaglesFan27 can probably give you a better answer.

As for your last question on public schools, there is a wide range of difference in the quality of school districts and in programs offered. It would just depend on the state and district. In Louisiana, for example, we have some outstanding school districts -- I'm fortunate enough to be in one now -- and a full range of districts running the gamut from good to terrible (the pre-Katrina New Orleans school district was one of the worst in the nation) and progressive to stagnant.


You pretty much nailed it. My understanding is the same as far as the question of universities and if they accept federal funds. As far as various alternative teaching programs, it really depends on the child's diagnosis. The approach to a kid with autism is completely different than a kid who just has ADHD.

How do you exactly "diganose" ADHD?

How do you exactly "diganose" ADHD?

It's a clinical diagnosis based on teacher's reports, parent's report, and clinical observation. Psychological testing can also help clarify the diagnosis in some cases.

And I have had my share of battles with the special educaiton lobby. It generally comes down to a conflict between teachers who want to push the kids to do as much as they can on their own, and special education specialists who think pushing the kids is wrong, and who want to do all their work for them. I once was told I didn't care about children because I put red marks on a special education kid's test. I was accused of destroying his self-esteem. The view of the person telling me this was that the kid should be given A's no matter what he did on his tests and should in the end be given a diploma. And in my old school district, the superintendent supported that view. That is just one reason I moved to my current district, which has a much more realistic view of these issues and is much better in many other ways.


That basically equals a fraudualent education and the administrators that allow this should be charged with fraud....IMHO. What is next, we hand out Law degrees and Medical degrees so people will feel better about themselves?

Ole Miss forced to enroll non-reading special education football player

I'm confused. Did the NCAA force Ole Miss to enroll him or is the NCAA being forced to enroll him. The title puts this squarely on Ole Miss' shoulders. Is that the case?

I think the word "force" may not be used correctly.

Sort of like...I'm "forced" to be a Tennessee fan.

I'm confused. Did the NCAA force Ole Miss to enroll him or is the NCAA being forced to enroll him. The title puts this squarely on Ole Miss' shoulders. Is that the case?

The way I'm reading it is Ole Miss is being "forced" to enroll him. They're working on the NCAA to "force" them to make him eligible for football.

I'm confused. Did the NCAA force Ole Miss to enroll him or is the NCAA being forced to enroll him. The title puts this squarely on Ole Miss' shoulders. Is that the case?

To be eligible, he was required to to obtain a 2.50 GPA in 14 core high school classes and a 17 on the ACT.

He scored an 18 on his ACT and finished with a combined high school GPA of 2.54.

He was given a scholarship and was set to enroll and play football this season.

Then the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse, an Iowa-based firm that certifies the eligibility of all NCAA freshmen athletes, ruled that he was ineligible, citing "too many irregularities in his high school course work and transcripts" and that Powe supposedly refused to "clarify" certain questions that it has about his course work.

Ole Miss filed an appeal with the NCAA on behalf of Powe, asking the Clearinghouse to reconsider its ruling. The school wants him to be enrolled and play football. He's the top defensive tackle prostpect in the courntry.

Since Powe didn't want to miss the final day students can enroll for the fall semester while the NCAA dragged its feet on the appeal, Powe went to court for a TRO. The court granted the TRO, which does nothing but preserve the status quo until the preliminary injunction hearing 10 days later. The preliminary injunction hearing is where the real decision will be made.

Attorneys for Powe, the school, and the NCAA then got together and reached an agreement that he would be enrolled part-time but would not play football until everything gets sorted out the the preliminary injuction hearing and the school's appeal of the Clearinghouse's decision.

Of course, one could never follow this story from the original post, because the original post was selectively edited leave out the facts and instead go on a tangent about the poster's hatred of the so-called "special education lobby."

Maybe i'm missing something or i don't underestand well the USA studies system, but how can a kid who can't read pass any exam? how can he finish his high school studies if he can't read?

In Spain, if you can't read because you are studies dissabled on any way, you will have special classes to teach you since you are a kid. They will try to help you on any way, and if you end not being able to read, they will teach you to do any kind of labour that could suit you for a future job, but for sure you won't get even a basic school title if you can't read and for sure you won't to go to high school and even less to study a career in college.

I guess this is just an example of how sports are above studies in the USA education for some high schools or colleges, probably the price for having "amateur" sports linked to colleges, that are really proffesional and paid sports and that move a lot of money for the schools, TV, advertisement, etc so there is nothing amateur on them, sadly money talks.

I love watching college sports, specially football, but i think that the system is really wrong in USA. Amateur sports shouldn't be linked to college, if you go to college is to get a degree. Of course it's impossible to change that system now, but i like more the ladder system in European sports. You start as a kid in your small city team, i you are good, the scouts from the pro teams will sign you and will put you in their youth squads until you can become pro one day. We could start a big discussion here as i don't underestand either how a huge country like USA only have for example 32 pro teams when could have thousands in smaller leagues in ladder system.

It's not my intention to offend anybody, as i said before, i love to watch USA college and pro sports, but my "euro snob" :D brain can't underestand some things.

I guess this is just an example of how sports are above studies in the USA education for some high schools or colleges...

While I won't argue that point, I don't get the impression this is a case born from the student being an athlete. Rather, this is an example of how an increasingly powerful lobby for the handicapped has too much sway with the education system (among other things).

We could start a big discussion here as i don't underestand either how a huge country like USA only have for example 32 pro teams when could have thousands in smaller leagues in ladder system.

That really is probably a whole other discussion, but in the very shortest explanation possible, it's because even the minor leagues that do exist in the U.S. (baseball & hockey most significantly) have a tough time keeping teams financially viable as it is. Something like "thousands" wouldn't fly because there's only a (relatively) miniscule amount of interest in those events and they would have zero chance of putting enough butts in seats to remain in business.

Grammaticus wrote: That basically equals a fraudualent education and the administrators that allow this should be charged with fraud....IMHO. What is next, we hand out Law degrees and Medical degrees so people will feel better about themselves?

What it equals is a serious division in the way educators believe special education students should be educated. I think it equates to a fraud, but there are those in the special education community who do not. As for what's next, you will see more and more accommodations for students with learning disabilities at the university level.




Of course, one could never follow this story from the original post, because the original post was selectively edited leave out the facts and instead go on a tangent about the poster's hatred of the so-called "special education lobby."

Oh, give me a break. I gave the citation for anyone who wanted to read the whole story. I did not selectively edit to leave out "the facts." Anyone could get "the facts" by clicking on the link. I posted what interested me about the story and then linked the entire story.

And as far as going on a tangent, I clearly stated at the beginning of the thread that I had an interest in the special education angle. What tangent? Apparently other people here are interested in that "tangent."

So why the criticism? That is the kind of nonsense that makes this forum so tedious sometimes.

To be eligible, he was required to to obtain a 2.50 GPA in 14 core high school classes and a 17 on the ACT.

He scored an 18 on his ACT and finished with a combined high school GPA of 2.54.

He was given a scholarship and was set to enroll and play football this season.

Then the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse, an Iowa-based firm that certifies the eligibility of all NCAA freshmen athletes, ruled that he was ineligible, citing "too many irregularities in his high school course work and transcripts" and that Powe supposedly refused to "clarify" certain questions that it has about his course work.

Ole Miss filed an appeal with the NCAA on behalf of Powe, asking the Clearinghouse to reconsider its ruling. The school wants him to be enrolled and play football. He's the top defensive tackle prostpect in the courntry.

Since Powe didn't want to miss the final day students can enroll for the fall semester while the NCAA dragged its feet on the appeal, Powe went to court for a TRO. The court granted the TRO, which does nothing but preserve the status quo until the preliminary injunction hearing 10 days later. The preliminary injunction hearing is where the real decision will be made.

Attorneys for Powe, the school, and the NCAA then got together and reached an agreement that he would be enrolled part-time but would not play football until everything gets sorted out the the preliminary injuction hearing and the school's appeal of the Clearinghouse's decision.

Of course, one could never follow this story from the original post, because the original post was selectively edited leave out the facts and instead go on a tangent about the poster's hatred of the so-called "special education lobby."

QFT.
This is what really is going on. Several players are stuck with clearinghouse issues, some not even able to find out the problem.

Hasn't the NCAA, SEC and other conferences been doing this for years? I doubt he is any different than many of the athletes that get into college, so why is this different? Is it the label of "spec ed"? If so, than how do you classify many others over the decade with the same "learning challenged" disability?

Several players are stuck with clearinghouse issues, some not even able to find out the problem.

And that stuff does happen (although frankly I don't believe much of the claims of "we don't know why" that get tossed about, not even as inept as I think the NCAA can often be).

But I really don't see a waiver on clearinghouse issues being the real story here.

What I see is a student described in court documents as a "non-reader" & who did not earn a high school diploma according to those same documents being court ordered for admission into college. Further, a non-reader who couldn't graduate from HS somehow passing 14 college level correspondence courses should certainly raise some red flags, which apparently it did.

Hell, my 8 year old has more business being on a university campus as a student than this guy does, and it's mindboggling to me that there's anybody who doesn't understand that.

It appears that the university tried to do the appropriate thing, the NCAA appeared to do the appropriate thing, but the courts refused to allow them to. Then again, considering a federal judge ordered Georgia Tech to not only reinstate a accused felon (who later pled guilty) but also ordered him to be returned to the football team, I'm not sure this is so shocking.

While I won't argue that point, I don't get the impression this is a case born from the student being an athlete. Rather, this is an example of how an increasingly powerful lobby for the handicapped has too much sway with the education system (among other things).

You don't think the fact that this student was a major college prospect has anything to do with this story? Why wasn't this learning disability (if you want to call being illiterate a learning disability) not diagnosed earlier? Why was it only when he was a star football player with the threat of not being able to play hanging over his head that he started receiving help?

This whole thing smells of a football player using the disability angle because he isn't smart enough to get into college. I don't see what the special education lobby has to do with this.

It appears that the university tried to do the appropriate thing, the NCAA appeared to do the appropriate thing, but the courts refused to allow them to.

The university is the one that offered him the scholarship. I'm sure they looked at his academic problems and were willing to overlook them if he would play football. With that gone, they obviously didn't want anything to do with him. Is that the appropriate action for a university?

Then again, considering a federal judge ordered Georgia Tech to not only reinstate a accused felon (who later pled guilty) but also ordered him to be returned to the football team, I'm not sure this is so shocking

While this is completely off the topic of this thread, and while I know nothing of this case, what happened to innocent until proven guilty?

You don't think the fact that this student was a major college prospect has anything to do with this story?

Only insofar as it wouldn't be a story if he weren't, since the court case wouldn't haven't happened.

Why wasn't this learning disability (if you want to call being illiterate a learning disability) not diagnosed earlier?

I didn't mean to say/imply that he wasn't given a pass through HS because of his football ability. But it appears to me that the university attempted to do the proper thing once they figured out the situation.

... only when he was a star football player with the threat of not being able to play hanging over his head that [i]cared enough to seek help?

Fixed that for you.

what happened to innocent until proven guilty?

That is the standard for a court of law, but it is not a standard that private entities (nor the state university) are required to apply to priveleges such as playing football. Both university & team rules were in place that allowed for his suspension, but since the team had never applied the rules before (since they had never had a player facing felony charges), the judge ordered him back onto the team (since no one else had ever been barred from participating in similar circumstances).

Ineteresting thread. I had no idea that the "special education lobby" was so powerful. The scariest thing about all that is with all the benefits that come with being deemed "special needs" (degrees, advantages in the workplace), it's easy to see the threshold of who is included becoming broader and broader. We'll probably find a "special" label for almost everyone eventually. The real losers in that kind of scenerio are the most seriously challenged, who become indistinguishable from those whose parents didn't like that they got Cs in school

I didn't mean to say/imply that he wasn't given a pass through HS because of his football ability. But it appears to me that the university attempted to do the proper thing once they figured out the situation.

Once they figured out the situation? What, that he couldn't read or that he couldn't play football for them? Do you mean to tell me that the coaches didn't know this kid couldn't read? Since they offered him a scholarship, they obviously felt like he was good enough to attend Ole Miss. So what changed?

Do you mean to tell me that the coaches didn't know this kid couldn't read?

I think that's quite possible actually. It certainly wouldn't be the first time. After all, I don't think recruiters are handing out too many questionaires that have to be filled out in person.

And I know from close proximity how something like a star HS athlete being essentially illiterate can be common knowledge to locals but kept extremely hush-hush whenever there's a recruiter in town.

Now, I wasn't there, so I can't say for sure what they did/didn't know. And I'm about the last guy on earth you're going to see giving the benefit of too many doubts to coaches in the SEC, but in this instance I see the bigger story being the courts unwarranted intrusion into the matter instead of allowing the school to ultimately do the right thing, no matter how late in the process that decision may have taken place.

Another article on this story that doesn't add too much to the original, but does have the following quote.

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060901/NEWS/609010383/1001/news

The issue is he didn't do good (in school) until he was finally diagnosed as dyslexic his senior year at Wayne County.

Serious question: Is it a common occurrence in today's educational system that a kid can go through school being dyslexic until he's a senior? I'm really interested in this. If it is common, my feelings towards this country's educational system has hit a new low.

I had no idea that the "special education lobby" was so powerful.

What does the special education lobby have to do with this story? This is a story about a young man trying to go to college on an athletic scholarship and being told no by the NCAA because of his questionable academic history. The fact that he's dyslexic has nothing to do with it.

Look, the NCAA found "irregularities in Jerrell's high school course work and transcripts" and asked him to clarify things, which he apparently didn't do. So he's out.

As for the judge's decision, it looks like he's basing it on the fact that Powe met all minimal requirements the NCAA has regarding academic eligibility and nothing about his dyslexia. Where is this all powerful special education lobby? And remember, this is only a temporary order, not a permanent decision.

Serious question: Is it a common occurrence in today's educational system that a kid can go through school being dyslexic until he's a senior? I'm really interested in this.

I would say that's very possible, much harder for me to try to figure out how common it is. I know one person who has considerable problems with dyslexia but the problem wasn't identified until she was about halfway through college, so I'm sure it happens.

Combine that with several anecdotal experiences about other learning disorders that weren't identified until middle school or high school, and I at least suspect that it isn't all that uncommon at all.

I would say that's very possible, much harder for me to try to figure out how common it is. I know one person who has considerable problems with dyslexia but the problem wasn't identified until she was about halfway through college, so I'm sure it happens.

Combine that with several anecdotal experiences about other learning disorders that weren't identified until middle school or high school, and I at least suspect that it isn't all that uncommon at all.

How old is she? Is she a recent college student?

How old is she? Is she a recent college student?

She's about 10 years younger than me, so ... 29 or 30.

And, FWIW, she went to school in upstate NY before attending a private college in VA (mentioned mostly because the NE tends to be about a decade ahead of the SE when it comes to educational trends, presumably making them much more likely to have caught something like this than if she had gone to school down here).

i roomed with a guy in college that had a pretty significant learning disablitity, he had all kinds of accomodations and even with all that he busted his ass every day to make B's...with that point of view on this subject, my question is...if this guys LD is so extreme that it prevented him from learning to read, how does he learn the playbook...i never played football, so i honestly dont know how complex a defensive lineman's playbook is, but how does he manage to learn the defense, but cant read?

She's about 10 years younger than me, so ... 29 or 30.

I hope the educational system has made greater strides towards recognizing disabilities like dyslexia since then. I guess I just have a hard time seeing how someone can get through school without being able to read. I know it happens, but it's still difficult for me to understand why teachers will let these students move on when there is obviously something wrong.

What does the special education lobby have to do with this story? This is a story about a young man trying to go to college on an athletic scholarship and being told no by the NCAA because of his questionable academic history. The fact that he's dyslexic has nothing to do with it.

Look, the NCAA found "irregularities in Jerrell's high school course work and transcripts" and asked him to clarify things, which he apparently didn't do. So he's out.

As for the judge's decision, it looks like he's basing it on the fact that Powe met all minimal requirements the NCAA has regarding academic eligibility and nothing about his dyslexia. Where is this all powerful special education lobby? And remember, this is only a temporary order, not a permanent decision.

The special education lobby is related to the dubious way in which he completed his coursework. As the story states,

"The documents say that Powe was a special education student at Wayne County, “essentially a non-reader” who was able to complete the correspondence courses with help from Crager. The documents also say that Powe improved his ACT score from 12 to 18 because on the second test he was able to use a “reader” to help him take the test.
Powe and his mother, Shirley Powe, both provided testimonials to the NCAA regarding his academic improvement."

Special education rules allowed this non-reader to pass high-school level courses and make a near-average grade on the ACT with the help of a "reader." I'm sure he also got extended time to take the ACT. I am simply guessing, but I suspect based on personal experience with special education specialists, that the "reader" did more than just read to him. "Reading" often involves reading and explaining, that is, everything short of giving the student the answer.

The question is whether such help actually benefits the student or not. Let's assume Powe goes to Ole Miss, gets sufficient accomodations to graduate, but doesn't make it to the NFL. What does he do with his college degree?

As for the special education lobby, I don't recall describing them as all-powerful. They are very dedicated, however, and strong. And they have done many good things for students with disabilities. But I think in the end some are blind to reality. How does Powe function in the real world when he no longer has a reader, for example?

How does Powe function in the real world when he no longer has a reader, for example?

Please don't ask.

We're moving closer & closer to employers being forced to hire one for each employee.

The question is whether such help actually benefits the student or not.

And that's a good question. Do students diagnosed with dyslexia have to take special courses to learn to deal with their problem? Otherwise, having a reader is nothing but a crutch that leaves them high and dry in the real world.

And that's a good question. Do students diagnosed with dyslexia have to take special courses to learn to deal with their problem? Otherwise, having a reader is nothing but a crutch that leaves them high and dry in the real world.

Agree, i also can't underestand how you can study not reading, does the "reader" read the lessons again and again until you memorize them from listening to him?