Read the following passage and write short and precise answers to the 15 questions that follow, in your own words: 5 Recently I was informed that my seven-year-old daughter, Geri Anne, was having difficulty in school. Her trouble stemmed front her inability to grasp learning how to read by the use of phonics. My initial reaction was to take the child out of public school and place her in a private one. I had always believed that the teachers employed by the New York City Board of Education were only overpaid and over glorified baby-sitters. This idea was reinforced when I visited my daughter's class last year and the teacher calmly walked out of the class to go to the bathroom, neglecting to separate two little boys who had their hands around each other's throats. Through speaking to one of the mothers, however, I found out that the school was equipped to handle children with learning disabilities in a place called the "resource" room. This room is equipped with games and toys geared especially for children who have problems in learning. There is also a teacher who is specially trained to handle this type of situation. The children are taught in small groups of five, and each child is given individual attention. The problem with this system is that just any child cannot qualify for the resource room. Because of the limit placed on the number of children in a group and the lack of funds to pay for additional teachers, only a select few can benefit. Immediately, I made an appointment with Mrs. Schwartz, the principal, and she agreed that Geri Anne might be a candidate for this program, but I would have to sign some forms before she could be tested. She also told me that enrolling her in the resource room was the least she could do to help Geri Anne. A couple of days later, I received a letter giving me an appointment with Mrs. Linden, a social worker who would explain what the tests entailed. I then met Mrs. Schulman, another social worker, who interviewed me about my background and about Geri Anne's previous experiences in school. Ironically, as a child I also had difficulty in learning how to read, and Mrs. Schulman explained that sometimes this type of problem can be inherited. I was then informed that the tests would be given within a thirty-day period and that the results were to be available to me. Three days ago, Geri Anne was given her first series of tests. First, a child psychologist interviewed her to evaluate her emotional state and to determine if her problem was caused by an conditional upset, because if a child has a high anxiety level, she will sometimes test poorly. After her interview, Geri Anne was given a test to detect if there is a malfunction in her visual perception. She was given a series of blocks in a certain sequence and was asked to duplicate it to detect if there is a reversal in her seeing the letters, which would give her difficulty in seeing and forming new words. Another test was performed to diagnose any visual problems through hand-and-eye co- ordination. So far, these have been the only tests given to Geri Anne, but there are still more in the series. I was also informed that an equivalent test is given at Lons Island Jewish Hospital for a high fee. Since our first phone conversation, Geri Anne's teacher has called me in the evening at least seven times to report her progress. I do not know if Geri Anne's problem can be solved by this program, but I do know that 1 now believe that the taxes I am paying in New York City are not just being thrown away on overpaid teachers and the city school system is still, as far as I am concerned, one of the finest you could ask for. Answer the following questions in your own words : (3 marks each question) i. What accounted for the writer's immediate reaction to his child's problem ? Mention three ways in which the school was capable of giving training to children with learning disabilities. Describe the process through which admittance of Geri Anne was ii. iii. determined. iv. Explain in the context of title passage the meaning of the expression- "was equipped to handle children with learning disabilities." v. Why did the writer later change his opinion about teachers being overpaid and over glorified baby-sitters ?