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Today was the first early release day of this school year. The parents received the school yearly schedule several times, with last years report card sent to their home in June, with a letter sent to their home in August, with the first day of school materials plus at least one or two other times (general monthly school newsletter send home from the principal and classroom newsletter sent home by classroom teacher), and of course the principal and teacher make reminders of early release day during their announcements.
Once again, about a dozen parents either called up the school during the day or need to be called after school when no one comes to pick up their child and need to be reminded that it is early release day. Many of them say. "But, we were NEVER informed!". There are always a few who get quite angry and belligerent about it. Sheesh!
I'm a long term sub in a moderate/mild Cognitive Disability Classroom. When the teacher reminded one of the parent of early release day, first the parent said "We were never told about this" (the teacher knows for a fact that she told them during their August IEP conference and gave them a schedule that day and the first day of school) and then the parent said "This does not apply to our child. He is signed up to attend school five full days per week." It was pointed out that the school day is X number of minutes longer every school day so that teachers can have this two hour joint curriculum planning time once or twice per month.'
Then they said, "We can not and will not met his (early bus) on early release days. YOU (the special education teacher) must continue teaching him from 1:30 until 3:30.!!!" Pretty clearly the parents felt that the rules, of the 2,000 plus students in our school district did not apply to them and their special snowflake. ARRRGGG!!!
Since this happened today there wasn't time for administration to put their foot down so the teacher missed the building wide planning meeting to "teach" this one child.
Hopefully a compromise will be set up before the next early release day. OR the parents will realize, that. yes, the rules do apply to them.
At my last district, if a child was not picked up after an hour CPS was notified. Parents were given one grace day of not getting their child for early dismissal and if they were late after that CPS was called. It's child neglect.
The child should have been sat in the front office area and not "taught" by the teacher. There is no compromise here - school is not in session, the child needs other arrangements made for him/her just as they do any other time school is not in session, period.
At my last district, if a child was not picked up after an hour CPS was notified. Parents were given one grace day of not getting their child for early dismissal and if they were late after that CPS was called. It's child neglect.
The child should have been sat in the front office area and not "taught" by the teacher. There is no compromise here - school is not in session, the child needs other arrangements made for him/her just as they do any other time school is not in session, period.
If it was a regular education child they could have sat in the office. Unfortunitely, this was a non-toilet trained, autistic child with severe behavior problems. He would have needed a teacher or a handicapped children's aide right next to him in the office.
At my last district, if a child was not picked up after an hour CPS was notified. Parents were given one grace day of not getting their child for early dismissal and if they were late after that CPS was called. It's child neglect.
The child should have been sat in the front office area and not "taught" by the teacher. There is no compromise here - school is not in session, the child needs other arrangements made for him/her just as they do any other time school is not in session, period.
child neglect? here that is a serious charge and here we have places for kids who parents have to work to go after school run by school district.many in the community even volunteer to help.
child neglect? here that is a serious charge and here we have places for kids who parents have to work to go after school run by school district.many in the community even volunteer to help.
It is child neglect, and yes, it is a serious charge. Parents have an obligation to see that their children are properly cared for and supervised. That means signing them up for an after-school program if that is what is needed or making some other arrangement. Just leaving them at school until they get there is not assuring the child is supervised. Telling the school that they won't come get their child, especially one who needs special care, and telling the school that they just work it out is child neglect. It is THEIR child and THEIR responsibility. The parents' response in this case was ludicrous.
I completely agree, but the entitlement mentality of SPED parents, makes it just not worth it. Which is why they get treated with kid gloves. Often, rules don't apply to them, because they are so high maintainance that things other parents are held accountable for, are let it slide with parents like this...
The joys of teaching SPED. The kids are fine, it is the parents who burn you out.
Just grin and bear it. And BTW, get that paperwork done on your own time....you are still accountable for it, even though you were with a kid the whole time!
No, there is no law for this situation. But a case could be made that the school needs to provide care for child because there is no community care available. In which case an aide would supervise the child, and the teacher could go to the meeting.
No, there is no law for this situation. But a case could be made that the school needs to provide care for child because there is no community care available. In which case an aide would supervise the child, and the teacher could go to the meeting.
How can they make that case? Even though some people these days appear to think otherwise, the purpose of school is not to provide childcare, it is to educate. The parents' arguement is bogus, if the school day is 8:15-3:30 then a full day of education is 8:15-3:30. If the school day is 8:15-1:30 then a full day of education is 8:15-1:30. That full day language means the child is spending a full educational day in a self-contained class, and isn't going to a regular social studies or science class or that they aren't a part-day student like some medically fragile students. Somebody at that school needs to grow a backbone very quickly.
Sometimes, in SPED, and work in general, it is better to look at things from all perspectives.
What should be done though at this point is to have a meeting with the parents, and a copy of the school schedule for the year. And go over it point by point. And have a plan for the child.
Document sending information about the meeting, with registered mail.
If they no show, make a plan with the SPED director for what will occur in future situations. And send this to parents, registered mail.
CYA everything. Make no decisions yourself. But make it clear that your, the teacher, has no responsibility for child if this occurs again.
How do I know all this stuff? 20 years of it....
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