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The Daily OrangeUniversity, Biklen dodge criticism
New dean faces complaints for controversial research
By Heather Collura
Posted: 8/29/05, 10:55 PM EST Section: News
Skolnick claims there have been cases of facilitators "assisting" children in typing stories of sexual abuse by parents and consequently breaking up these families.
"Any method can be harmful if it is used badly," Biklen said, laughing. "Anything in education could be harmful."
Biklen said while he has always wanted to come up with a less intrusive method, he sees profound results with facilitated communication.
SU has one of the most famous inclusive education programs, according to Biklen. He said while he does include examples from his research in the classroom, he does not teach students only this technique.
"It's part of a whole array of things," he said, adding that he teaches students many techniques and lets them decide which they prefer.
As dean, he said he has no plans to change the way he has been doing anything in regard to facilitated communication.
"I would never back away from any SU strength," he said.
Barbara Applebaum, a colleague of Biklen's in the School of Education for the past four years, said she is delighted about his appointment as dean, especially in the era of Chancellor Nancy Cantor.
"His career couples a commitment to innovative research, as his work in facilitated communication demonstrates, with a deep understanding of teaching and how to shape the educative experience of students in positive ways," she said. "Anyone who has the good fortune to get to know (Biklen) knows he is a man of integrity and would never misuse his position in the way that critics suggest."
Rachel Polansky, a senior education major who had Biklen as a professor her freshman year in the Study of Elementary and Special Education Teaching course, also expressed positive sentiments regarding Biklen.
"He was a great professor," Polansky said. "He really strives for personal relationships with students."
Polansky also worked at the SU day-care center on South campus while enrolled in Biklen's course and said she got to work with autistic children.
"They were able to transition really nicely with other kids," she said.
Biklen said he has seen cases of children eventually being able to type on their own and some even learning to speak due to facilitated communication.
"I've always felt I needed to put my work out there," Biklen said, who also founded the Facilitated Communication Institute at SU in 1992 to give focus and secure grant money for his research on the technique. "Some debates can be hasty in the academic world, but this is just bullying."
"Any method can be harmful if it is used badly," Biklen said, laughing. "Anything in education could be harmful."
Biklen said while he has always wanted to come up with a less intrusive method, he sees profound results with facilitated communication.
SU has one of the most famous inclusive education programs, according to Biklen. He said while he does include examples from his research in the classroom, he does not teach students only this technique.
"It's part of a whole array of things," he said, adding that he teaches students many techniques and lets them decide which they prefer.
As dean, he said he has no plans to change the way he has been doing anything in regard to facilitated communication.
"I would never back away from any SU strength," he said.
Barbara Applebaum, a colleague of Biklen's in the School of Education for the past four years, said she is delighted about his appointment as dean, especially in the era of Chancellor Nancy Cantor.
"His career couples a commitment to innovative research, as his work in facilitated communication demonstrates, with a deep understanding of teaching and how to shape the educative experience of students in positive ways," she said. "Anyone who has the good fortune to get to know (Biklen) knows he is a man of integrity and would never misuse his position in the way that critics suggest."
Rachel Polansky, a senior education major who had Biklen as a professor her freshman year in the Study of Elementary and Special Education Teaching course, also expressed positive sentiments regarding Biklen.
"He was a great professor," Polansky said. "He really strives for personal relationships with students."
Polansky also worked at the SU day-care center on South campus while enrolled in Biklen's course and said she got to work with autistic children.
"They were able to transition really nicely with other kids," she said.
Biklen said he has seen cases of children eventually being able to type on their own and some even learning to speak due to facilitated communication.
"I've always felt I needed to put my work out there," Biklen said, who also founded the Facilitated Communication Institute at SU in 1992 to give focus and secure grant money for his research on the technique. "Some debates can be hasty in the academic world, but this is just bullying."
