In school suspension

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-29-2005
In school suspension
7
Wed, 10-18-2006 - 10:36am
And so it begins...Nathan, who is in the 7th grade got an in school suspension for today for sticking his middle finger up at a few students in his class. I got a call yesterday from his Life Skills teacher letting me know that on Friday he had gotten upset with a couple of kids who were picking on him so he stuck up his middle finger at them. I know this is wrong and inappropriate but she told me the principal was going to give him 3 days of in school suspension for this. So when Nathan got home I asked him what happened, (he is always honest with me) he told me that they were watching a movie in class about fruits and vegetables and he thought it was stupid, so he admits he was talking and being disruptive. So the teacher then proceeded to say "well class, since Nathan has decided to talk we're going to have to rewind the movie and watch it again" so she had Nathan rewind the movie and they had to re-watch it. well the whole class was upset with Nathan and a few of the boys made some rude comments to him so that is when he flipped them off. Now, the reason I am upset is because this teacher singled him out and embarrassed him in front of the class and his main issue is he does not want to be singled out or embarrassed because he has a hard enough time making friends as it is so he's always trying to be the funny guy or whatever but in the long run he ended up making everyone mad because of his behavior. Does this make sense? I guess I am upset that she had to bring the whole class into it and make an example out of nathan. She also made comments to me on the phone that she knows he has a disability but she just doesn't know what to do with him. So needless to say I went to the school and talked to the principal and told him 3 days of in school suspension was too much for him and they decided that since he has autism they will make it just 1 day! well thank you for that! So I have called a meeting with his group of teachers and we'll see how that goes. It was a quiet first 2 months of school and I really thought things were going to be okay but now it's starting and I feel like this is never going to end...thanks for listening. I think I just need to vent a little and your a great group and always so supportive of one another. MY DH has no clue, he knows a little about aspergers but Nathan is so high functioning that he just thinks he's being a trouble maker. ugh!
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2005
Wed, 10-18-2006 - 11:08am

In school suspension sounds very OTT for a finger gesture, or maybe I'm just more laid back about that sort of thing.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-29-2005
Wed, 10-18-2006 - 11:45am
well that is exactly how I am feeling today too "anti authority" good way of putting it! I'm going to have to pull out his IEP and see what is on there for behavioral stuff, I don't think there is anything I may have to change that. I think any other kid would be able to maybe let it roll off of them but not Nathan, he takes that stuff to personally and will act out. especially if your going to embarrass him in front of the whole class. We just moved here from another state and let me tell you he has done worse, and the consequence was usually detention or pink slip this is a first for me and him. That is a good idea about taking him quietly aside and asking him to step out if he's going to be disruptive, I will have to mention that to her when I meet her. I had to laugh, the principal asked Nathan how he is going to be able to control his outbursts and Nathan said to him, "I don't know, that is why I see a counselor and get all of this extra help at school they can help me"! He knows what he needs, and I think it's great! Thanks :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Wed, 10-18-2006 - 12:08pm

For what it is worth. You could tell your son for what it is worth. Flipping thebird was not the best response. But at least it was within good contax for the situation. You can't tell me that none of those other kids never flipped the bird?

The teacher was defintely wrong and Nathan responed in the only way he could. At least he didn't punch nobody or throw anything. IEP hopfully help. but sometimes these Zero tolerance policies many schools are adapting hurt all of the students. Sad to say maybe there were other ways to handle things,but if the worst he came up with was fipping the bird rather than saying it. Maybe the teacher should of said quietly, sorry you are not happy, but here is the chose watch the show or leave the room. Better yet teacher should not have pushed, when Nathan first started to act up he should have had 3 warnings then leave the room.
Singling him out like that was just opening herself up to the trouble.

Sometimes I have found in my world that some teachers truly don't have a clue on how to act with kids.
I think for those people teaching may have been a last resort. Because they surely didn't pick this career for the fun of it. Either that or they themselves had unresolved issues and now teaching is the best revenge of them all.
'Rina

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-24-2006
Wed, 10-18-2006 - 5:38pm

Of course Nathan knows what he needs.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-30-2003
Wed, 10-18-2006 - 6:04pm

I would be so upset with that teacher. Yeah, our kids will say inappropriate things...but, to single him out like that is the worst thing she could have done.

I'm not looking forward to middle school, if that's how it's going to be.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 10-18-2006 - 6:59pm

Dee,

All fabulous ideas and ones I love when I see a teacher using them.

You wanna go around the country and do teacher training on how to be a decent teacher for AS middleschoolers?

Renee

Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2005
Wed, 10-18-2006 - 7:25pm

Do I get mileage;)


It just gets me steamed when I see an educator go the easy, pick on the kid route; it's the sign of a burned out or a incredibly useless teacher.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting