I'm Done
I've said it before - schools have issues no matter where you go. Therefore, as a parent, it's important to stay on top of things.
This is just further proof.
Special needs children are interfering with the education and development of their mainstream classmates. There are many reasons why such children are integrated into the regular classroom. It's an experiment, really, to introduce compassion and understanding to non-handicapped children as well as allow special ed kids a chance to rise to the occasion.
It's an experiment that's failing - everyone.
I see it at the high school level every day.
My children are experiencing it in elementary school.
Three kids this year, all with emotional and mental problems, have been bullying up their classrooms. My children aren't afraid of them. Therefore, my boys have stood up to them several times - either when the developmentally delayed children pick on them or other kids.
For some reason, in the last two weeks, the school officials want to punish everyone equally.
This is not okay with me.
My letter to their principal:
I am extremely concerned.
Oldest told me that when he was going to the bathroom today, Tyler* entered and started punching him. Oldest said he did not hit him back, but instead pushed him away and said, "Back off." Mr. Simpson* was told of the incident and reported to Miss HooHah* that both boys were fighting. Oldest said he tried to explain and was told by Miss HooHah, "I don't want to hear it."
This is the same child who's been instigating Youngest. Youngest told me a story a few days ago that Tyler hit him in the face with a basketball and both children were punished.
I'm done trying to be patient. I am done going over strategies with my children to ignore and avoid bullies in this school. I am done begging teachers for feedback about my kids.
Neither Miss HooHah nor Mr. Simpson have ever expressed a shock or concern over either Oldest or Youngest's behavior. Therefore, I have concluded that my children are not part of the problem.
Let me be very clear - I support and encourage my children to avoid and ignore bullies and aggressive children. But if one of them lays a hand on my children, both boys are encouraged to push such bullies away. They have my husband and my unending support.
They are not to be punished for defending themselves.
What concerns me most is that you all cannot protect my children and when they protect themselves, Oldest and Youngest are punished along with the aggressor.
This is unacceptable.
Stay tuned...
posted by kate @ 9:32 AM
11 comments
11 Comments:
Let Miss Hooha and Mr. Simpson know that I am coming up there within the next week and intend to bully both of them by hitting them in the face with a baseball bat.
If they try to defend themselves, I'm sure the arriving police will put me and them in jail. If they don't defend themselves, then I'll hit them again and again until they do, and then we all go to jail. I will have a great feeling of accomplishment while they will have broken faces.
If you can't protect my grandkids, teachers, then I'm coming after you.
just wondering - at one time were you not a great believer in "mainstreaming?" maybe before your own children experienced the stupidity of such an experiment. my kids went through it years ago -it was wrong then, and it's still wrong - imo.
My oh my. This has been going on for ever.
How many parents have gone to school with the same complaint as you, regular ed or special ed, science room or home ec room.
I could recount the many scripted answers they have, but I am sure you know them.
Maybe you will be able to change the system.
Let us know.
to anon 9:43
now you know we can't promote home schooling because that takes away money from the school.
public schools are willing to teach children how to have sex, but they are not willing to teach children how to behave appropriately. As long as it is someone else's kid, it is none of our business.
only the well behaved kids should be allowed in school. All of the others can eat cake, along with their worthless parents.
for all of you longing for Tampa, another female teacher goes down today. The last one was a special ed teacher. This one is an honors teacher.
who says we don't have well rounded sex education in our system.
Your children SHOULD be punished for defending themselves. They are participating in the violence when they choose to do so, and we have a zero tolerance policy in effect in our schools about violence. If we didn't punish them, the next thing we'd see is them drawing pictures of guns or other such anti-social behavior, and that simply cannot be tolerated. Defending yourself against violence is totally inappropriate.
Finally, Kate, something we agree on! :D
Mainstreaming just doesn't work. It hasn't since it was introduced and it won't in the future. All it does is create collateral problems and prevent all children from receiving the unique types of educational attention that will allow them to prosper.
But we live in a "blame someone else" society, unfortunately. Many parents refuse to acknowledge that their kids face difficulties that might be better served in special needs situations. Other parents just drug their kids senseless and think that solves the problem. Actually dealing honestly with the needs of the child is seemingly taboo because it might imply they're "not as good as".
but they are not willing to teach children how to behave appropriately.
That's a mischaracterization pure and simple. Public schools can't teach children how to behave appropriately because the teachers get no support in discipline from the administration or the parents. Parents don't discipline the children at home and then expect teachers to maintain order during the day. Should a teacher actually try to do that, more often than not parents write in to complain about it. When faced with a choice of backing the teacher or bending to the parent, the administration more frequently chooses the parent, even though they're part of the problem. It's one of the reasons it's so hard to find good teachers anymore because they just don't want to deal with a no-win situation.
can't vs not willing
hmmmmm
Mainstreaming doesn't work! It doesn't work in schools and it doesn't work in society. Normally I never agree with you, but you are right on, and the mainstreaming in schools lead to the mainstreaming in the workforce. What is happening to your boys is unacceptable, and it is a weakness of the school system, they can't stand up and make the decision to remove the kids, or they will might lose the "special" funding they receive for the special needs students. It's all about the money folks. Do not think for a moment there isn't special funding for the challenged. Schools get it, employers get it.
It's about time this country stop the bullshit and coddling. What happens when the challenged student goes ape shit and something happens to the innocent victim? The victim still suffers and the challenged is coddled..
Take me back to the day where the kids took care of themselves and were permitted to defend themselves. Don't start it, but damn well finish it...
All the exceptions we have to deal with. We can't expect too much of little John because he is challenged and not the same.. get him out of the classroom then...
Sorry for the rant, but you are right on...
we won't be safe from mainstreaming until we elect all republicans - hard right wingers - to positions of power in our communities! no more social experiments - those can do, will do - those that can't - get packing!
sounds like private school is in the future
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