Already the trouble maker

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-22-2003
Already the trouble maker
11
Sat, 09-01-2007 - 12:27am

So I knew it wouldn't take long before my need to follow the rules caused me to get in trouble at my new job.

As soon I started, I was approached by the librarian/technology teacher about leaving the classroom for approx. 45 minutes on Friday afternoons so I could help out in the computer lab. Well, the first thing I thought was, hmmm...I don't think they're supposed to use me for stuff like that- an IEP is a legal document and I knew that, according to the IEP, I was supposed to be with "my" student for 6 hours a day. (Our school day is 7 hours long and we take 30 minutes for lunch and two 15 minute breaks.) I didn't want to cause any problems, so I told the librarian/technology, that I couldn't commit to anything because I wasn't sure of the students therapy schedule, and that mom wanted me to attend all therapy sessions. Then I realized that the time they wanted me to cover was supposed to be my lunch time. Next thing I know they've spoken to the principal who is requesting I change my lunch to accomodate the need. Again, I stated that I wouldn't commit until I knew what the therapy schedule was going to be, which won't be "known" until this coming week. (This is huge because my student gets 90 min./week SLP, 60 min./week OT and 30 min./week "autism consultant" time.) So then on Tuesday, when we were scheduled for our weekly library time, the librarian/technology teacher told me that she wanted me to go help out on the lab rather than stay with my student and the class. Not wanting to get into an arguement with her, I just did as she told me...but it wasn't sitting well with me because my reason for being there is to facilitate communication (the student's speech delay is significant) and encourage social interaction. Well, in the libary, there are opportunities for social interaction, and because of the "whisper rule" it's really hard for my student to communicate with the classmates.

Well today I happened to run into the 2nd in command person of the Special Ed. dept. and explained the situation. Sure enough, I was right. I'm assigned to the child and while I'm able to help out the other students in my class, I am not to be reassigned to another class for any reason.

No doubt the librarian/technology teacher is going to be p*'d off when she hears I had the audacity to go over her head and ask if what they were requesting of me was allowable. The funny thing is, this lady is HUGE in the union and a real stickler about following rules, etc.

The best part of the story is that now I have real "staying power" for all of the times they pull Claire's 1:1 to do other things. While that wasn't my intention for asking about the rules, it sure is nice to know that I had a right to get upset last year when they were constantly using Claire's 1:1 for other purposes!

Amy

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Sat, 09-01-2007 - 8:04am

Amy, I'm real proud of you for being the trouble maker! We need more people like you in the schools. If I found out they were pulling my ds's aide for library duty I'd be way more P'd than the librarian! Good for you for sticking up for that child's rights.

Samantha

Samantha
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-12-2005
Sat, 09-01-2007 - 5:52pm

Well, I suppose some people see a 1:1 aide and think "Oh goddy! SLAVE LABOR!" Does this woman understand that you're a "1:1 aide" not a general aide? Heck, even then the general aide is attched to the specific teacher, and still shouldn't be leaving the classroom. If she needs help that badly, and I'm not saying that she doesn't, but if she does then she needs to go beg for an aide of her own. This is one area where you shouldn't try to add 'barrow or steal' to the equation.


Besides, if your anybody's Slave Labor you're mine. And I don't share with people who don't ask nicely... and sometimes not even then.


~Candes, Holder of the Chocolates (who just bought her boss' boss a custom t-shirt that reads "She Who Must Be Obeyed" on the back and "I've been practicing this sharing thing lately, and I don't think I like it." on the front. This is a jab at the people who've been trying to barrow her little army of editors)

APOV on Autism

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Sun, 09-02-2007 - 12:36pm

Amy,


If advocating for your charge, adbiding by the law and standing up for what is right is troublemaking, then please go ahead and make all the trouble you can.


That librarian is the worst kind of red-tape jobsworth meddling slibhins.

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-21-2006
Sun, 09-02-2007 - 2:54pm

Amy... SO VERY GOOD FOR YOU!

Hugs because they don't have the right to do that. Where is the teacher you work with anyway? My son's teacher would pitch a fit for sure! Tell the librarian and her "whisper rule" to shove it. Oh, wait, I think you already did that! LOLOL.

Stick to your guns and do what you know is right. screw everybody else!

Nicole

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2001
Sun, 09-02-2007 - 11:13pm
Amy i am so glad you spoke up!! Bobby starts school on Tuesday and he has a 1:1 aide.

 


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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-30-2007
Tue, 09-04-2007 - 12:26pm

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU AMY!!! I can't tell you how much we appreciate a dedicated person such as you that will advocate for a childs special needs. As a parent of a 6 year old daughter with numerous special needs it is shocking to find out the person who is supposed to be spending time with your child (and getting paid for it) is off helping other people and ignoring the needs of your child, or worse yet, letting your child fend for themselves and fail miserably, then getting in trouble for it.
Thank you for your time, dedication, and commitment for your assigned child and doing your job!! WE LOVE PEOPLE LIKE YOU!! Keep up the great work!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 09-04-2007 - 1:45pm

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-22-2003
Tue, 09-04-2007 - 5:20pm

As an update...

Sure enough, what's the FIRST thing that happens today? The librarian confronts me and wants me to know if I have my "schedule" yet. I came right out and told her, "I'm sorry, but I won't be able to help you. I happened to run into the #2 person in the Special Ed. dept. and she confirmed my belief that because the IEP states I am to be with my student for 6.5 hours a day, I cannot be pulled out of the classroom to be utilized elsewhere. This includes when his class is in the library. Because my primary role is to facilitate communication, it wouldn't be fair to my student to leave him alone in a situation where communication can be extremely difficult."

I think she was a little got that I stood up to her, because honestly, that's something I really struggle with. But all I had to do was think back to last year and how mad it made me when they kept pulling Claire's 1:1 to do other things. As the mothers of children with special needs, we often have to learn to "suck it up" and do what needs to be done, even if it makes us extremely uncomfortable. I know that the school personnel love the fact that I'm reliable, but before it's all said and done, they're going to HATE that, along with being reliable, I know the law and I'm not afraid to use it!

Of course, all of this may be for nothing because if things with my own daughter don't start to improve dramatically soon, I'm probably going to have to pull her and homeschool. But that's a story for another post.

Thanks for all the encouragement, ladies. It means a lot to me.

Amy

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2001
Tue, 09-04-2007 - 5:41pm

Are your 1:1s employed thorught he school district??

 


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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Tue, 09-04-2007 - 5:42pm

Amy you are so cool! I'm so glad you stood up to the librarian. You advocated for that child that can't advocate for himself, and I think you are wonderful!

Lainie

P.s. thanks for the update as I was wondering what happened :)

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