Field trips and I'm "not invited"
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| Wed, 03-19-2008 - 7:28pm |
OK, I know I seem to be the board hog these days; but dh has been home earlier than usual so I have time to post and get embedded crap off my chest.
You all know I HATE Liam's current spec ed teacher. Basically, she prefers an intraverted classroom; parents aren't really encouraged to be there (compared to last year and her predecessor). Even field trips are kind of sprung on us and parents aren't invited. Well, I have been in phone contact with one of the Moms in Liam's class (the one other verbal boy; he's awesome and despite the 2 year gap the boys get along great- In fact we are meeting for a playdate in a few weeks)
So this Mom was at a field trip last week (bowling) with Cian's class schedule (10:30-2pm) I have a divil of a time making field trips. This year I've noticed there are far fewer trips than last year, and yes I blame the current lazy a$$ teacher. She only does the one's that are annual and through the umbrella school, (cos then she HAS to).
B's Mom called today to ask if I was going to the movies tomorrow with the class, but as someone has to get Cian off the bus at 2:15 and Roan has thrown up twice tonight, sadly nope.
Apparently when she asked the teacher in a note as to times etc she received an abrupt note saying "parents aren't invited!"
How can they not allow parents to tag along on a field trip to a public theatre????? Did I miss something. If Roan wasn't ill I'd find daycare for Cian and Roan and show up ANYWAY! Ugh, I'm tempted to do so if Roan can keep dinner down. I mean WTF, parent's aren't invited my a$$!! Grrrrrr.....
I am just in angry mode today!!!!
Dee (aka: board hog)






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Ya know... IMO that breaks the rule of being able to visit your child when you need too.
Mollie
I really REALLY disagree with this:
Our issue here isn't the school, it's the teacher. Liam is in a sc class of 5 ASD kids with a teacher and three parapros....sounds perfect doesn't it, well it's not, trust me. His class is a satellite class of the GA state psychoeducational network, and the Mother school is actually a different place altogether (very severely impacted EBD and ASD kids go there). This is because the district has no appropriate placement at present although we are wearing away at them.
This particular field trip includes all the Auties who are capable of managing the trip from the center school and those from the EBD classes that have earned the privilage of the trip (they have to earn a 90% in behaviour all week by the day in question to be able to go.) So it's a large group of Autistic and EBD kids. My guess is they have rented the theatre in the morning as with the first listed showing they'd never make it back in time for the busses. Parents aren't allowed as they are fearful of what we'll see. It was more the tone this woman took when questioned. She is a terrible communicator and often avoids any communication at all. In fact I was floored that she responded to my email asking about Special Olympics, as I know its coming up, but Lord knows she'd not tell me until the day before. I also asked about the annual zoo trip that we ALWAYS go on, and she said she'd not heard anything. Well, 'course not, her predecessor organized it just for her group. Ugh, I am at the point where Liam can only stay in this class next year if SHE is gone. Dh disagrees and just wants him out of there, but I think he may have to accept the fact that the district are dragging their heels for a purpose; for us to disappear.
Dee
Edited 3/20/2008 9:42 am ET by roanmom
"So I would really not agree with the blanket statement above. To my mind, the school would be failing in its duty to provide proper support for DS if they *didn't* exclude parents from some activities. "
"Our issue here isn't the school, it's the teacher."
I understand.
Sorry, I have to smirk at that. I've been battling for a different class for months now. We are trying to get his actual home school in the district to create an appropriate placement for him, but it's a brand new building and still growing it's spec ed programs. The allotments won't be known for a while, which is why we are putting the squeeze on the district and forcing them to be at all the various meetings we also have with the center school. I can rarely make field trips as I also have a 15 month old dd and an Aspie 4 year old who goes to spec ed pre-K 11-2, so by the time he's on the bus, Liam's field trips are often halfway over or on the other side of the county. the movies would ahve been perfect as I'd have brought Cian and found day care for Roan somehow.
I used to teach private school and I had two kinds of parents,the ones who practically camped in and around the classroom (pains in the a$$e$ all btw) or the ones I only saw on graduation day; I liked them a whole lot, lol....kidding;)
Dee
I am surprised and shocked about the teacher and her no parents deal esp on a field trip. What is the school /district policy on such matters? Check the policy manual to even see if the teacher is with in her rights to say no. Because almost all schools I know of require some parents to go as chaperones on any field trip. Maybe not the whole class of parents but at least 2-4 depending on the size of the class.
I agree there is definitely something rotten in China here. I talk to a higher uppie to see if its just her saying no or the whole school. If its just her then obviously you need to point out that she is wrong to the higher uppie and with written proof.. She is going against school policy.
I usually don't go on class field trips with my kids. Josh because I know he would not leave me alone and would less likely to behave. And usually I work during the day so again its a time thing But I also know there is more than just the teacher going on the trip because another parent volunteer goes.
But I know my kids school on the elementary level is always encouraging parental involvement. Even at the secondary level but providing seminars, classon how to best help the kids etc..
Good luck
Rina
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