The Jordan School district has decided to pull the Life Skills Special Education / Peer Mentoring programs from both Herriman and Bingham High Schools. This decision was made without adequate input from educators, the community, and the parents of the children with Special Needs. Our children deserve to attend their neighborhood schools with their siblings and friends. This local interaction is vital to the building of a compassionate and diverse community. The District’s decision is likely grounded in an effort to improve efficiency by consolidation. Nevertheless, all students deserve and need the opportunity to associate with, and learn from, children with special needs.

Our society is rife with division. Our children are compelled by social media to develop a self-centered worldview. We need to combat these issues by giving them opportunities to think outside themselves. Diversity is something to be celebrated, and children with special needs have a unique way of helping all to understand that. Please give our community the opportunity to understand and include children of all abilities. Help all our children experience education as an extension of their neighborhood community.

#weallbelongutah