Interesting Evening ....

[christie]

Have to say guys was quite interesting tonight. I got together with Christopher's Kindy and 1st grade teacher and the Assistant. We all became very close friends since those years Have to say it was quite interesting to say the least of their take on ALL the BS that goes on in schools today in special ed, least here in our district Just as we as parents can get soooo totally frustrated on how things are being done with our kids in the schools OMG I wish you all could have been a fly on the wall for this conversation Alls I can say is very sad and much needs to be done to make things better for our kids.

Not to be a downer to new parents BUT I tell you I worry sometimes that instead of things getting better for our kids in the school system they are going backwards and we CAN't let that happen

Christopher's kindy Teach has now been let go from 2 different public schools and NOT gotten her 10 year, because she has spoken up on behalf of the children. She is sooo sick of how her hands are tied that she is now decided to leave the teaching field and is now taking on teaching horse thearpy. She always wanted to teach and work with kids and the nonsense in schools today has pushed her out BUT THANKFULLY she will still be working with kids as she is one AWESOME person/teacher

Just my thoughts here but one of the first steps to me would be getting rid of 10 year for teachers. Really what other job do you know that after you get 10 year even if your lousy its hard to get rid of you??? And the second step would be get ALL that work in any public school, training on inclusion.

Just rambling here I guess, after tonights conversation I am soooo annoyed and even thou I have chose to put Chris in a private school I will continue to fight for rights of our children and inclusion and that it BE DONE RIGHT

We ALL need to put our heads together on this and make it better. But where to start, Hmmmmmm

CC

[Emilysmom]

Such a shame Christie!!! I do think that one way to BEGIN is for every single parent to stay really really involved with their child's class, so they can watch first hand what goes on and they don't get surprised by anything that goes on. I say this mostly because I'm still feeling guilty that I just assumed Emily was receiving the OT/ST she was required to have. Her year seemed to be going SO well..........she was obviously learning, the notes we received home from her aide were positive, when I talked to her resource teacher (her child is in Emily's Girl Scout troop, so we see each other often), everything seemed to be going well. However, I waited till the last weeks of school to find out they had failed to provide the therapy Emily needed......GRRRR just cause they assumed I'd never know?????? Just cause they figured they would get away with it???? And, who suffered for that? My kid who now goes to summer school to make it up! It's not just this situation, but I realize we really don't have the luxury of "assuming" all is well........I know I'll keep my eyes open and will be in that school more often next year.
I also know there is a fine line here.....but I've tried really hard to be assertive on Emily's behalf, without being AGGRESSIVE to the school folks. I do think that approach works a bit better when there is a conflict.
I'm sure there is a LOT that goes on that we'll never know about....unless LOL we have a friendship with teachers and aides.
One way to prevent a teacher from getting tenure is to voice or write your concerns about those teachers before they reach that point. If enough parents had concerns about a certain teacher, surely it would affect their ability to become tenured.
Susan

[steffipoo]

AWWWW CC.... REALITY SUCKS... Oh Lord and the things you hear from those who are within...UGGGG makes ya wanna cringe eh? I really wish that all school would adopt the collaboration plan our school does. Livs sp ed teacher would have the therapists neck Susan if they didn't provide the services she was supposed to get. The reason being is that we all work collaboratively.Takes more time in the short term but produces HUGE results in the long run if they are willing to put in the time.Even here in busy short handed L.A. our school has figured this out I feel so blessed. AND SUSAN in preschool I had NO IDEA Livs once weekly 30 min APE lessons were only taking place about 10 minutes a month. I found this out the last month of school so don't feel bad ya can't be everywhere all the time

[justinsmom]

CC man do I ever hear ya . Susan you too, we just went through the same thing. We pulled Justin out of his old School right after Easter Break, needless to say they weren't very happy and didn't understand why. Well they will shortly cause I tend to go back and talk with the Director of Special Ed. Even though Justin will no longer be going there, it makes me sick to my stomach to think they will continue to do this to other children. Justin was suppose to have ST 2x's a week, after numerous attempts to meet up with the ST failed and the daily reports never showed any ST I went to the head of the program only to be faced with lies and more lies. I told them how dare they waste a year of his life, according to them he is at the same place he was last May, which means he learned nothing in that class other than how to run around and do what he wanted and now we are paying the price at the other school. MB if you are still out there I think it was you, you had mention previously about a program by you that used the High school students, it seems that was one of their excuses they didn't have enough people to help out in the classroom, although I would volunteer in there and see exactly what was going on this is not the problem but thought it may help. The teacher and the 2 aides sit on the butts and discuss what is for lunch, or where they are going shopping, the teacher even goes online in the classroom and does her shopping during class. The whole time one little girl she had CP would throw the toys they gave her, I went up to her and gave her some different ones only for the aides and teacher to tell me she will only throw them, well guess what she only threw them because she wanted them to play with her also, I did and she did not throw one thing. How can some educators be sooooooooo lazy and irresponsible. I am also putting together a little something for the Director in lines of a new parent advisory group, one that will meet with the teachers and staff and discuss different approaches we as parents know work for our children and what type of learning we want, for instance in his old school they didn't even introduce numbers, ABC's, shapes, colors etc. nothing just circle time and then run around and do what they wanted. Sorry so long but this has made me so upset, there is no reason why I should have to send my son to the neighboring school district which is about 12 miles away, I know it doesn't sound that far but after that last storm scare and all 3 of my kids at 3 different schools in lockdown until it cleared, Justin was way over on the other side of town and I was totally hysterical, the older 2 are right down the street and he would have been also if he was at his home school.

[paulineuk]

Hi Christie.
Probably a stupid question but what does '10 year' mean, is that how long they have been teaching, do they get some special qualification after a 10 year period? I am sure we don't have such a thing in England -could be wrong of course.
Pauline

[Jackie]

One suggestion to target teachers and inclusion might be for local DS groups to "fund" a teacher that they think will be able to come back and influence others to a NDSS or NDSC convention. I suggested this at our local group ....but being out of the system for several years I had no suggestions...and most of the parents in our group are just beginning the education process....and dont know any educators. Most school districts will not fund education out of the state...and most have few funds to fund anything or bring in speakers on promising practices...etc....that are gurus.

My thought had been that since most DS conferences are in very interesting places that might entice some good educator to take us up on this offer....a chance to travel in exchange for coming back and presenting both to our local group and within the district as well. Its just a thought...but maybe if we could start targeting eductors we might make some inroads eventually.

Another suggestion is for local DS groups to co sponsor some good speaker....let the district provide the logistics...set it all up...and the local group pay the speakers fee.

Jackie mom to emily 24

[jennanne]

I think Christie is meaning "tenure" not 10 year. When teachers and professors work for x number of years at one school,university they get tenure which puts them in an elite category(I know it's about impossible for them to be fired). I don't know much more about it than that.

[rickismom]

Well, I have a friend who teaches in a integrated kindergarden, and who has a 16 year old son of her own, now syudying in special ed. Her advice to parents:
1-Keep in inclusion as long as possible
2-No MATTER WHERE YOUR CHILD LEARNS, TRY AND KEEP TABS. This means even (especially) dropping in for surprise visits.


Isn't this all a shame that the system has to be so unhelpfull?

[Chris]

In Michigan, a teacher doesn't automatically get tenure just for serving their time. Shame on a school district that gives tenure to lousy teachers! Those teachers shouldn't have their contract renewed after their first year. A tenured teacher can also be let go if they aren't doing a satisfactory job. It does take more proof to fire a tenured teacher but it can be done.

Tenure protects teachers from principal or other administrators who have a personal conflict with a teacher. Believe me, I have taught in Texas and Michigan and I am grateful to teach in Michigan. In Texas, teachers have NO job security and I have seen teachers fired because the principal just didn't like them. It had NOTHING to do with their teaching!

Unfortunately, there are a lot of wonderful teachers who leave the profession because of politics and the inability to do what is best for their students.

Chris
A tenured teacher