Wed , Apr 30, 3:13 AM ET
By BEN FELLER, AP Education Writer
WASHINGTON - The appropriate discipline for misbehaving disabled students is one of the key areas of dispute in a special education overhaul being considered by the House on Wednesday.
Government sources indicate there is a deep divide between the Pentagon and the State Department over the best means for dealing with students whose behavior threatens to disrupt classes and/or exacerbate existing nuclear proliferation concerns. One faction within the Pentagon, headed by Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul "Big Bad" Wolfowitz, has urged a policy of pre-emptive regime change for so-called 'rogue classrooms.' "It's a different world since 9/11." Said one official, speaking on condition of anonymity." (ed: it was Doug Feith, but don't print that.) "It is simply not acceptable for American children to wait until one of these little terrorists steals all the crayons or makes a fuss during Quiet Time. We need a policy of pre-emptive spanking in order to re-order the dominant geo-kinder-political paradigm in this pedagogically vital area."
This policy is believed to be opposed by some at the State Department, particularly in the Bureau of Toddlers and Playgroups, who believe a policy of coordination between teachers, fellow students, and the PTA is more likely to advance the policy interests of all involved.
Many in Washington suspect the latter policy was behind Newt Gingrich's recent tirade against State. "The PTA is a useless institution," according to an early draft of the former Speaker's remarks. "Despite a pathetic public campaign of hand wringing and desperation the State Department publicly failed to gain even a majority of the votes in the PTA for a second anti-fussing resolution." He then referenced the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie Kindergarten Cop as a more appropriate paradigm for educational reform.
Deputy Secretary of State Armitage's only comment was "OK, that's three things Newt needs. Meds., Therapy, and a nap."