Friday, September 26, 2008

at the plate

If you are tired of reading about my back, my husband is tired of listening and I am tired of living it! HA HA! Thursday was a good day, only a bike ride and a Dr. Mike Adjustment. Periods of pain and no pain. Today I run and I can not wait.


Today I also have to go to bat for my son, as we do every single year. He's a kid with some special needs, and he's come a long way. But nonetheless every year we get called into school at about this time, to listen to how bad he is.


In this kid's 8 years of life he has been told how horrible he is by every adult in the academic world. Then we wonder why kids have such trouble in life?


Last year we created an amazing plan and group of strategies with an incredible child psychologist who simply told the teachers "I wish you would all stop provoking this kid." And the same thing is happening again. He'll be called in again.


We didn't change schools but some of the players in the team have changed.


We sat Luc down last night and we reminded him..... we love him. We are always on his side no matter what. That he can always count on us to protect him.


What I will fail to understand is how people within the academic world can have degrees and "experience" in special education and completely fail to ask, understand or even work with a plan that was previously set forth....


This is what I will never understand the most......... these same teachers, these special education teachers consistently ..... consistently........ CONSISTENTLY....... remind these children of what they can not do.


UNTIL A CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST ARRIVED ON THE SCENE........ THEY NEVER TRIED TO BUILD ON WHAT LUC CAN DO.


Frankly it really pisses me off.


Once we build from what he can do....... he succeeds. This is not rocket science everyone. This is a simple concept.


So today Curt and I will sit at the round table as we have done so many times before. They will try to tell me that Luc just bursts out and hits other children. I will tell them he won't do that unless he is provoked. They will smile and shake their heads and tell me he is unprovoked.


God give me the strength to not say BULLSHIT.


I will keep a small checklist of all the negative things that will be said versus the positive things. In fact I can tell you exactly what they are going to say.


I can tell you this..... we bring in this specialist again and he will say the same thing. Stop provoking this kid and build on what he can do instead of continually reminding him of what he can't do.


Simple.


And what happened after that meeting last year???? Luc became the first special education kid to be awarded..... student of the month. Please excuse the hair.... Curt took him to school that day. Blad men feel they don't ahve to brush their son's hair.


7 comments:

TriGirl Kate O said...

We had some issues at our school over a 504 for Joey. You are so right that we are our children's first and last line of defense against a system that reacts to failure, not success. Finding the positive in every child and enacting a plan to help them achieve should be a no brainer. You go, momma bear!

Missy said...

As a prior classroom teacher, now homebound teacher, I share your frustration. I had a homebound student last year who was removed from school because of his behavior. I felt for this kid and his mother because he was not a 'bad' kid, he just had special needs that were not being addressed in the classroom.
Playing devil's advocate I will say that the reason I am no longer in the classroom is because the demands placed on teachers are unreasonable and impossible to meet. In the meantime it is the kids who suffer because of a teacher who is stretched too thin and works too hard.
When I was in the classroom I bought all my own 'awards' for the kids, all my own teaching supplies and even had to purchase my own copy paper. All this on $36K a year.
I spent literally hours working when my teaching day was over, yet was constantly thwarted by my administration in my attempts to be creative and address the individual needs of each child. To meet the demands of 'No Child Left Behind" administrations insist on the cookie cutter approach to teaching and remediation is not even considered. Curriculums are jam packed to meet the demands of testing and teachers are forced to adhere to schedules and ignore the individual. I cannot even express to you how frustrating it was for me knowing a student was falling behind and being forced to move forward or be reprimanded.
I know it can be very frustrating. Good luck to you and Luc!

Marit C-L said...

I'm cheering for Luc!

Go LUC GO!!! The world is yours and you can do ANYTHING you want!

Mary - Luc has taught you and Curt so much and vice versa. How lucky the three of you are! I am really sorry you have to sit through stuff like this - last year's plan went really well. We all know that Luc can and does do amazing things. And I have no doubt that he can do it again. Next time he's student of the month - perhaps you should, er, take him to school. Although he does look really cute in the photograph.... :)

Damie said...

Hey!!!! Yes! Fight, fight!!! I walked into a school as a special education teacher years ago and was appalled at how little they expected of the special ed students. One administrator even went as far to say to me that many of the children could not learn and it was a waste of money that could be spent on better students. You KNOW I threw a huge fit about that. You are a special mom- keep using your gift of motivation even with these teachers and "professionals." Keep drawing on all of your special gifts to get things done. And, I admire you!

BreeWee said...

Way to go Luc, you are a super star...

Reach for the moon, if you miss you will land among the stars!

Anonymous said...

If we don't fight for our kids, who will? I know you work hard for LUC and he deserves that. HE is a great little boy!! Jen H.
PS HIS Pic is soo cute!

Mel said...

BOY is Luc soooooo cute:)
OK miss mary sunshine..I sent it today..so let me know when you get it!!!!