Not even a little bit. NO, that's why my son is in a private school (specifically for LD)NO, I am sorry to say. I don't necessarily trust them, but I stay on top of them. For me Adam is older and verbal, so I can find out what is going on. His special ed teacher e-mails me two x per week and lets me know what is going on. Also because Adam is such a stickler for routine, if he doesn't get a service one day he will come home and that is the first thing he tells me. I have learned to stay on top of it. So far with this school I have been very lucky. I have a very good relationship with the Special Ed teacher and the principal. But I have also gotten lots of advise from our local advocacy group. If I hadn't pushed he wouldn't be getting the services he does. I trust the Special Ed teacher, who I have personally watched cut through red tape and regulations in the best interest of my child. She is given a lot of leeway by the school, and I trust her implicitly.I was curious as to how many of us actually trust the school to do the right thing for our children. I would like to trust them but I just can't.
No I definatly dont. I am struggling with the decision on weather or not to pull him out of spec ed preschool now. And actually i am keeping him out today and tomorrow because I am so upset with the way they are.
And to me it seems they do not do the right thing for the children but rather what works best for them or costs less or takes less time ect.
Firefiend, I think that's it's good you diferentiaed between your child's teacher and the SYSTEM. Sometimes even good teachers do all they can do with the support they have. I know here that lot's of parents have had situations that have caused them to not trust their child's teacher, and rightfully so. It's important to remember that sometimes even good teachers have to act upon directives from higher ups in the system. Most of the time it's the system that is driven by money and cost effective and time saving. I don't think parents get treated right by the SYSTEM. And I have worked with, and still continue to work with sp ed teacherse who act according to what's in it for them. But good teachers do everything they can despite limitations that the system puts on them.
I am currently writing a grant to get some Alaphasmart's so that I can implement them with my students. I know that having that kind of assisitve technology would benefit their access to the general curriculum and allow them better organization too. If I was to ask for assitive technology for a 10 yo LD student, my head would roll. That's just an example of how I know that my students could be benefiting from something the school SYSTEM should afford them. But it doesn't stop me from doing all that I can do as their teacher.
Like I said, parents have reported here seeing things with their own eyes that have concerned them enough to pull their child out of the classroom and take further action. That's totally different. Some teachers, even general ed teachers, have no bussiness being in charge of any aspect of a child's education. But it's very beneficial to look at what your teacher does vs. what her system will allow her to do.
That's my two cents from the other side!!
Moving lived in both Washington state and Oregon I can say that both have good and bad schools.Firefiend, I think that's it's good you diferentiaed between your child's teacher and the SYSTEM. [/QUOTE]
Our daughter's last school was a total disaster. Teacher and District both. First, our daughter was being transfer to an in-district school. They had months to prepare and find proper placement. They find a "suitable" program for her a couple weeks before school starts.
This is last school year.
School starts on a monday, that friday, the teachers finally meet our daughter. That afternoon the district rep who placed her said the school, after meeting our daughter and realizing we weren't kidding when we said she was PROFOUNDLY autistic, said they wouldn't feel comfortable with her in the program, that they couldn't help her.
With less than 24 business before school beginsm the search begins again. The school they DID place her in considered her a burden and their actions reflected it.
Fortunately, half-way through the year, unexpected circumstances foced us to move from north Oregen, to Washington.
Her school now, is AWESOME. The teachers adore her, her aides adore her and the communication between us all is excellent. The school district on the other hand is not so interested in our daughter's well being, thus prompting a formal complaint being filed to the federal ADA office.
I just think it's good that although you have had to file that complaint due to someone in the top ranks not making an accomodation, your attitude about her teachers and aides still reflects how you REALLY feel about them. Sometimes it's just so hard to see everybody from the school on one side and not be able to have the good relationship with the teacher and aides since a problem exists for you with administrators.
I hope your problem is solved really soon.
Okay, I have many teachers in my family, so....I look at things differently. It's not easy to be a teacher, and special ed is even more complex in terms of paperwork and IEPs. The squeakier wheels may end up getting more oil, but I hope these teachers remember their ideals and the reasons why they became teachers (and trust me, there are reasons, usually inspirational ones, as to why these people go into special ed; I know because I ask). I "trust" everyone involved in the educational process to do their job to the best of their ability. I consider each person individually. I speak to many people "off the record" to get to the bottom line. This is after they learn that I am trustworthy. I have been very pleased with my son's pre-K teachers and his OT. I feel they are on my side. I am not as happy with his ST, but this is because I don't think that she's adequately trained in ASD. She teaches all the kids in basically the same way.
I don't trust the school district or the system in general. I believe they will do whatever they can to not spend their resources (ie $$$) on your child. This is not out of maliciousness. It is because of bosses, and politics, and red tape, and lack of knowledge, and lack of communication, etc.
This is why we must be our children's best advocates. We must be educated and prepared. I have books on writing IEPs, books on IDEA 2004, books on current autism theories and recommended treatments. I talk to whoever I must to get what my son needs. I put everything in writing.
Remember, you get more with honey than with vinegar. No matter what I try to maintain civil relationships and I try not to burn bridges with anyone.
Well said AndrewsMommy!!!I am having a mainly teacher problem here, im sure there is a lot to do with school as well. But my problem is with the teachers attitude and how she speaks to and treats me. As if I know nothing about my own child. And I am also very annoyed that my son is in a 4 day a week class for 1 1/2 to 2 hours a day. But he has two seperate teachers and because of this repeats the thing he did on Monday again on Tueday because these two teachers are teaching the EXACT same thing.
[QUOTE=ormomoftwo]<SPAN =bold>Firefiend where in Oregon did you previously live? I am currently right out of portland and am curious if you were in the same district that I am having so many issues with.</SPAN[/QUOTE]
We lived in West Linn. The teacher claimed to have an austic child herself, which seemed to be true, but unfortunately she suffered from what I think we all have at point: I know someone with autism so I know EVERYTHING about the disabiility.
The class had 8 students, 1 teacher and 3 aides. Our daughter's IEP required a writen note be sent home everyday so that a written account of her behaviors is on record for monitoring for issues regarding her bio-dad and DV.
The teacher never did it, claiming her workload was too great. Also, teaching sign language was and is in her IEP. No one knew sign to teacher and they didn't hire anyone.
so yeah, west linn schools and district, in my experience are not good for special needs. though our son (undiagnosed asperger's) did well there.
go figure, hehe. [QUOTE=tzoya]But I also try to subtley point out how improvement in my son will help the school look good (better test scores, less disruption in the classroom, etc., etc.) On top of everything we have to do for our kids, we also need to learn to be good SALESPEOPLE. We have to SELL the schools on doing what's right for our individual child. And showing them that that will be in their best interests, too, is a good sales ploy.
Great Post, Tzoya!
Well said Tzoya. Sometimes it is hard to seperate the people from the institution and that's a good thing to remember that the school system is an institution with budgets and bottom lines that don't always equal services for our kids. I love this board it always makes me think.Every person and every institution in the world see things from their OWN point of view. No school -- public, private or parochial -- is run for the express benefit of ONE child. But we parents are ONLY responsible for our OWN child. So there's an inherant conflict of interest here. I don't think trust should even enter the picture. We trust family, we trust friends, but "trusting" and institution? No.
That said, I don't think every school or every school system is out to "get" our kids or us. I think about it this way. I have to present what my child need in a light that will allow the school system to see that it is in THEIR best interest to go along with what I know is important for my child. So, if I ask for more services, I try to show how that will make my child be a better student for that teacher and how learning NOW will cost the school less later. Of course, I always stand on the law and my child's RIGHTS. But I also try to subtley point out how improvement in my son will help the school look good (better test scores, less disruption in the classroom, etc., etc.) On top of everything we have to do for our kids, we also need to learn to be good SALESPEOPLE. We have to SELL the schools on doing what's right for our individual child. And showing them that that will be in their best interests, too, is a good sales ploy.
Thank youOne of his teachers is doing something to that effect. She said oh my son was difficult when he was younger. Oh I just wanted to scream lol.
We live very close to there actually we just moved. We are in the washington county district. In the town I was just in it wasnt soo bad but after moving its gotten worse. They just transferred his current ifsp over to the new school because we are in the same county. I really want to set up another meeting but I am in the process of getting his educational eval done so I kind of wanted to get that done before tackling anything. The frustrating part is that they are taking their time MAJORLY. After signing the paperwork for the eval not even two days later they had an autism specialist in his class to do his classroom observation part of the eval. I didnt even know about it until I walked in the classroom and she was standing there. I keep asking when they are going to do his inhome eval ect, and they say well we have up to 60 school days to get this done. ugh. So in the meantime I hate just dealing with everything else thats going on.
I want like you said a note each day on what is going on. Because when I ask all i get is he did good, um not enough information to help me help him, but thanks lol.
I want his class rooms changed so he is getting different information each day and not doing the same thing twice in one week. I want him to have ONE teacher not two. How is he supposed to feel comfortable there and want to go when he alternates teachers AND students on a daily basis.
ANd the frustrating part is I moved here for the school district a couple years ago. And yes my daughters school (she is NT) is AMAZING. But no so good for my son.
I would have to say that I trust the teacher more than the system although my school has provided Chris with his own room with two para and a teacher who only has one other students, i really can not ask for more than that. He classroom is connected to two other special needs rooms so he is allowed to socialize on his terms and also has his own room when he cannot handle the noise. The upper people in the school district just tell you what will shut you up and they think will make you happy. I have had to fight for years to get all of this but I am satified. Also his teacher talks to me daily.
Kathy
I trust me and only me to make sure the school district (whom I don't trust) gives my son optimum help in the way I want. It's up to me to play policewoman. Right or wrong, it's often a battle. We want more and they want to give us less.
I have worked with them as a professional for several of my students that are also in our district and they interact with me totally different when I am there as a teacher, versus a parent! Makes me so sick!
Having worked as a special education teacher in multiple settings both private and public for the last 7 years, I would strongly recommend any parent of a child with autism become THE strongest advocate they can be! Being on the "other side of the fence" has opened my eyes and actually gotten me into trouble as I try to counsel parents and encourage them to do what's right for their children. Many of the higher ups in school districts tend to lose sight of why they got into the educaiton field in the first place and only worry about the staet regulations and how they can jump through loopholes. I hate to be so negative, but I see it every day (kids without one to ones, kids not getting related services for great lengths of time because the school has yet to hire someone, kids left to stim in corners of the room, parents talked down to regarding their concerns...). Most special education teachers can help with pointing you in the right direction to getting your child what they need. They typically are not "in it for a paycheck" and care about the children. But, they can also get "scared" of administrators or "warned" for saying too much. It makes it hard to trust anyone...
Again, know the laws, keep up to date and also know your child's IEP inside and out. Check to make sure they get all the services on it!!