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angst
Jul 10, 2004 16:23:47 GMT -5
Post by steffipoo on Jul 10, 2004 16:23:47 GMT -5
ELVIS TALL ELVIS sewing butterflies on stuff. Now that would be a sight to see.LMAO. I'd run too.. Ya know I think it just has to do with the school at least here in L.A. Not even the school district. Last year when Liv went to the OTHER school(not our home school which we attend now) I was worried bout putting Liv in a sp ed kindregarten,1,2,3 class. She wasn't old or mature enough to be at our home school kinder and I felt like she neede a year of opractice before hitting the home school the following year as we did this year. She was too young for our school and too old for preschool. Looking back on it Jeff and I KICK ourself on a daily basis well now a monthly basis. The reason being my social butterfly turned into a different kid that year. Behaviors and started yelling at us. I never heard one nice word from that teachers mouth. I shoulda pulled her out the few times I thought about it cause then we wouldn't be correcting these beh's and she never woulda had to go thru such a HORRIBLE experience. That year Jeff was really sick and yes it was easier for me to stick her on a bus and off too school. BUT in the long run it wasn't easier.The guilt of knowing this wicked witch of a woman treated my girl awfully to the point she hid under the desk with her hands over her ears(I found this out from an aide of another kid the LAST week of school-scared I'd flip out and she might lose her job by telling me aww geez like 6 months earlier grrrr) Believe me anyone who going into the school system talk to EVERYONE before you stick your child in any class. Come to find out they have a new principal this year at Livs old school and the first thing she did was FIRE the sp ed teacher and dismantle the program altogether till she could make a wonderful sp ed program and they won't have one this year either. This year Olivia has just flipping bloomed I mean the whole school knows my girl and the funny thing is that she did the kinder programs(like at Christmas graduation) and field trips and the 1 grade field trips AND the performing arts magnet part of our school also had Olivia in the African dance program they did and their play ANANSI??? EVERYONE knows Olivia and if someone doesn't treat her like a kid would wanna be treated she has MORE friends and her bros LOL that will be the FIRST to come and let em know they had best stop and also apologize. She can hold her own with her typical classmates and she won't LET anyone walk all over her either. I taught her to be her BIGGEST DEFENDER. Not physically but verbally. and I witnessed more blessed events of her standing up for herself and negotiating.Shes lucky she has great speech so that helps the most with inclusion for us at least. The principal of the school was there for 23 years. He left in March to become head of the LAS reading program.His wife is a sp ed teacher somewhere else. But from his first year he included kids with ds. I know one of em. He's a really special man and believe treats all students equally. BUT he also had the ability to NOT let the few BOMBASTIC sp ed students parents rule him. He had his ways he looked at both sides really objectively with you. Smart guy. His old VP is now the principal. She came to EVERY weekly 20 minute meeting in the kindergarten room before when she was vp and now even though she is the PREZ. These 2 schools are less than a mile from one another but NIGHT and DAY or heaven and he double hockey sticks.
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angst
Jul 10, 2004 16:29:50 GMT -5
Post by steffipoo on Jul 10, 2004 16:29:50 GMT -5
the first evil school I talk about is her sp ed kinder 2 years ago. The great school with the wonderful principal and now new principal(who usta be the VP) is where we go but even if the teacher wasn't so good then I guess that it could be a neg experience. But see our school would NEVER allow that (a bad sp ed teacher at last not now)the teachers and staff all are there forever and they have nothing but great things to say about one another
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angst
Jul 10, 2004 19:14:07 GMT -5
Post by Sherri on Jul 10, 2004 19:14:07 GMT -5
Jackie, I'm so glad that Emily is home safe & sound, even if it's only for a short visit!! I also wanted to say how much I enjoy reading all her adventures. It sure puts a huge smile on my face & gives me great hope for when Jared is an adult too. Btw, I'd also like to say that living in a rural area in Oklahoma...........you basically described the type of environment in his special ed class room that where trying to keep Jared out of as much as possible. The sad part though is they're not even providing proper supports, ect for him to be included with his typical classmates I'm really dreading this upcoming school year........Jared has so much potential, but I'm afraid he's going to fall through the cracks so to speak. Hope you have a wonderful visit with Emily!! Sherri
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angst
Jul 10, 2004 22:33:54 GMT -5
Post by christie on Jul 10, 2004 22:33:54 GMT -5
JACKIE, after reading your last post YES I can see why you would think the way you do BUT I think you would be surprised how some years later things in SPED ed classes and SPED schools have changed for the better ;D Well from reading some of the other posts I guess in not all areas yet but I can honestly say things in our area are not like what you describe at ALL.
Sorry I thought when I read you post you were decribing how you thought things were now.
One thing we can both AGREE on is yes special education weather it be inclusion or contained or whatever needs improvement.
This subject touches me very deeply as I am sooo pro inclusion BUT refuse to have my child sit in a room with 24 other regular students and lose out just sooo my freakin district can say, see we include Sad but true, my district thinks if the child with special needs is in the regular class room thats all that needs to be done and thats all it takes for the child to be included Hmmmm
I have said over and over again inclusion does NOT only take place in schools these days and for me and I am ONLY speaking for me, I feel Chris gets the best of both worlds most days ;D
You know the tides turn cause most districts in my area will fight you to keep the kids with special needs in district even when its NOT right to do so for that particular child When just some years back they would fight you if you wanted your child in the public school
I really honestly believe that when the districts truly understand what the "I" in IEP means then we might be getting somewhere
Just some more of my thoughts on this subject and my lord we ALL know I have plenty of thoughs LOLOL
CC
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angst
Jul 11, 2004 5:16:19 GMT -5
Post by updowns on Jul 11, 2004 5:16:19 GMT -5
Jackie, I too can see why you think the way you do and I know you made the right decision for Emily. I am not anti-inclusion, rather I am pro-inclusion once it is "proper" inclusion and not just window-dressing and that it is the right choice for the child.
If I came across as defensive it was because I often feel I have to justify my choice for Sarah as I am often made feel I have chosen second best. I think I felt your statement was a generalized dismissal of all special education. I now realize that is not the case.
I know there are still "bad" special education scenarios just as occurs in "mainstream" education - not all schools are good schools. The school I chose for Sarah is outside our District as I was not impressed with the special schools in our District. I had to fight to get her into that school but I had decided that if she didn't make it I would keep her at home, rather than send her to a second-rate school.
Anyway, all I really wanted to say is that once the child benefits and the decision is for the child - whatever education path you choose is fine - inclusion, special ed or a mix of both - once it works - GREAT.
Stella
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angst
Jul 11, 2004 8:44:25 GMT -5
Post by Jackie on Jul 11, 2004 8:44:25 GMT -5
No..I dont think any child should just SIT in a classroom....nor do I think they should have to go to school to learn to brush their teeth and make their beds...these are things most parents teach at HOME.
My problem was....as poorly supported as inclusion was...it was where EMILY wanted to be. In HS she and I battled about the value of her being at least a few hours a day with her Special Olympic friends in the Functional Living class (it even had a label). I worried about her social isolation out there in the big bad 'typical' world. She had a best friend who was LD....but...didnt see her that much during the day. I kept suggesting that she might want some time with Kenny...Elvis...Toby...etc....but she chose adamantly the regular classes....announced she wanted "regular" at her own IEP meetings (yes..my quiet Emily)..... She did take some LD classes which were taught out with regular classes and had pretty typical kids in them....but even there she was, of course , odd man out.
My perception of 'Emily's World' and...Emily's perception....were two different things! She often spoke of her "friends" ...and those of you who have been thru this know what 'pain' this conjured up in me. I know the difference between an ...aquaintance...and a ....friend...but Emily really did not and was happy with the perceptions she had of nice smiley people passing her and waving in the halls. She also like the EXCITEMENT....and we did too (LOL)....thru her eyes! She loved the bad language....the fights...the kissing...the high fives....the noise....the kids sneaking smokes.....the joking around....the football guys in letter jackets....the cheerleaders...pep rallys....announcements in the morning....lunch hours....and we JUST could not take it away from her....so continued much of her education at the kitchen table as we had done for years.
Inclusion has to be much more than academic and I DO think Em deserves a pat on the back for making it work for herself. Being a quiet soul...she was not one of these kids you read about who is sort of taken on by her class as a project...made homecoming queen....singled out for awards. Instead she just sort of blended herself into the class population and existed pretty much like the average student. I sometimes grieved that this amazing achievement of hers was not recognized...but then I was really proud of the fact that she could coexist with her classmates almost as if she did NOT have a disability. I dont know if I am making myself clear or not....but her ability to 'fit in' has made me prouder than almost anything about her her whole life.
I DO have regrets now that she has reached adulthood that we are having to start at square one again with some of her academic skills...but it is easier because now SHE understands the value of learning these things and how it will improve her life. I have often wished that I could teach regular teachers some life lessons about inclusion...having 'been there done that'. And...they would be easy lessons...nothing complicated...just from my observations how they could make a regular classroom meaningful for most any child....those were such bittersweet years for me...that now I really want to just hide my head in the sand about getting re involved in those issues.
I am concerned because here in my town...there is a program as there is now I understand in many towns with teacher shortages...a fast track program to take anyone with a college degree and turn them into teachers in one summer. I am sure there are good people in those programs...but I had the opportunity more than once to teach a day about disabilities such as DS and was less than impressed with most of the students. The unfortunate thing about this program is that mainly they are educating these people to become SPED teachers....I even had one guy ask me in front of everyone if I thought maybe the "funny looking kid" who lived next door to him might have DS.....and this was with my Emily in attendance!!!!...not exactly who I would want teacher her. SPED used to be a teaching major....that when I was in school took one to two extra years to become certified...now it seems for the most part they are just seeking 'warm bodies'. The trained SPED teachers are exiting to regular classrooms due to all the regulations and red tape.
I guess thats why I keep posting about staying involved and on top of things as most of you are. I think parents of kids with DS really are the most active voices overall in education issues and we cant ever really take time to let down our guard or it will all disappear. BTW ...I am really enjoying my days with Emily. We have talked and she is hoping her life will continue to be spent now in the Houston area. She loves her job and her new life.
Jackie mom to Emily 24
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angst
Jul 11, 2004 11:22:08 GMT -5
Post by Debbie on Jul 11, 2004 11:22:08 GMT -5
Jackie,
I am so proud of Emily and what she has accomplished so far. I know you are very proud of her. It must be hard to let go and I admire you for trying to do that. I don't think you ever stop being concerned parent. I know when I was living in California way back ago, my mother had a hard time and even cried. Emily is a good influence for me!
I want to thank you for standing up for those kids who are older who student's. I think I know what you mean.
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