Violence in Kindergarten- Sligo Creek Elementary

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry, Madaleno was actually referring to Montgomery College. Why did you lie about that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an admin, let me remind you these “problem children” are protected under laws. Expulsion, suspension and exclusion are absolute last resorts and a lot of documentation and sign-off’s are needed. It rarely happens. Everything is done to keep the child in class, least restrictive environment, and minimizing learning instruction. These protections include ADHD, ED, mental illnesses along with learning disabilities. You might not like it but those children have just as much right as your child to be at school. Having said that, that is why all three of my children are in private schools.

Thanks for being honest, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an admin, let me remind you these “problem children” are protected under laws. Expulsion, suspension and exclusion are absolute last resorts and a lot of documentation and sign-off’s are needed. It rarely happens. Everything is done to keep the child in class, least restrictive environment, and minimizing learning instruction. These protections include ADHD, ED, mental illnesses along with learning disabilities. You might not like it but those children have just as much right as your child to be at school. Having said that, that is why all three of my children are in private schools.

This really sums it up. So many administrators aren't going to help teachers and will watch as teachers are assaulted over and over again and are fine that kids are witnessing violence every day that really affects them. Students aren't feeling safe at school. The least restrictive environment is different for every student who is in special education. It is the least restrictive environment WHENEVER POSSIBLE that works for the student to receive educational benefit and keep everyone safe. The law states "...special classes, separate schooling or other removal of children with disabilities from the regular educational environment occurs only when the nature or severity of the disability of a child is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.”

[20 U.S.C. Sec. 1412(a)(5)(A); 34 C.F.R. Sec. 300.114; Cal. Ed. Code Sec. 56342(b).]

A student who is incredibly violent in a general education classroom shouldn't be in a general education classroom because it is not the least restrictive environment for that student because it cannot be achieved satisfactorily. Some students just can't cope with being with 20 to 25 other kids in a class and need to be in a class with 8 students where they are working on emotional regulation. A good administrator does everything in his or her power to make this happen.

The key phrase there is "such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily."

The issue is that MCPS doesn't want to provide those supplementary aids and services. So even if you can find a principal who wants to get rid of a kid, it is going to be pretty easy for the parents to challenge an alternative placement until they've been provided and failed.

The real question is why is MCPS not providing the help. These kids are begging for help. It's tragic as it will cost more long term rather than getting them the help they need early on.

It's expensive. And it is politically expedient to simply blame the problems on the kids themselves, rather than blaming the BoE and central administration for not providing the necessary resources.

Just look at this thread. Clearly everyone- teachers, students, parents- would be better off if the school devoted more resources to helping this child. But instead posters started lynching the child and their parents.

If we want the necessary resources, we need to be willing to pony up the taxes to fund them. Or we can continue to be under-funded (see the $55.7M gap just proposed by the County Executive), as has been the case for 25 years, now.

That $55.7 million includes $40 million to plug a gap in the MCPS health insurance fund caused by a mistake in setting premiums. A costly mistake. The County Executive is proposing increasing MCPS's budget from last year's budget by $128 million which is not a small amount.

Not sure that "increase" even keeps up with inflation.

People will say anything as long as it fits with their world view. It wouldn't be that hard to look this up but why would you bother? Inflation is down, my friend. If you look at the increase in benefits costs is much more than the 3.2% inflation we have had over the last 12 months.

Look closer. Wage inflation for primary and secondary school teachers for the 12 months ending in December 2023 was over 4.2%:

https://www.bls.gov/news.release/eci.t01.htm

The quarterly increases were 1.1% in March, 0.8% in June, 1.5% in September, 0.8% in December -- 1.011 * 1.008 * 1.015 * 1.008 = 1.0426493146, or about a 4.265% increase for the year. Wages (MoCo has to compete for teachers with other jurisdictions) and construction costs (another higher-than-CPI figure) are the main drivers?

If funding is even $128M more than last year, and not the $107M reported

https://moco360.media/2024/03/14/elrich-no-need-to-raise-property-taxes-to-pay-for-proposed-7-1-billion-operating-budget/

that would be maybe a 3.9% increase on a $3.3B budget (maybe 3.25% if only the $107M reported). So not as much as the appropriate inflation comparator. Meanwhile, the county budget as a whole was lifted 4.9%. Wonder where their priorities are, and have been for decades, now...

The article even quotes the county Chief Administrative Officer as saying,

"While we have a record amount of money on a per pupil basis for the upcoming year, when you compare it to inflation-adjusted dollars, we’re still not quite up to the level we were in the timeframe right before the Great Recession."

It's preposterous to say health insurance has to increase the same amount as wages. (It's also silly to say wages need to increase the same amount as wage inflation for the previous 12 months). Health cost inflation has actually been lower than the CPI . As for your point about the budget not keeping up with inflation, the point that the CAO is making us about how much money the county has. You assume that amount is infinite and we just need to increase taxes to pay for things. I don't know if you heard but the MD economy has not grown since 2017. You can't keep raising taxes on a stagnant base. And remember, the Council has to raise taxes on everyone, not just the rich people you assume will bankroll MCPS's incompetence.

.

You’re right we can’t just keep on increasing taxes. But I’ve yet to hear what people are willing to cut that equals the same amount as the shortfall. Because that is really where the rubber meets the road. When people start saying, you know what, yes I’ll give up this program or services or staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an admin, let me remind you these “problem children” are protected under laws. Expulsion, suspension and exclusion are absolute last resorts and a lot of documentation and sign-off’s are needed. It rarely happens. Everything is done to keep the child in class, least restrictive environment, and minimizing learning instruction. These protections include ADHD, ED, mental illnesses along with learning disabilities. You might not like it but those children have just as much right as your child to be at school. Having said that, that is why all three of my children are in private schools.

This really sums it up. So many administrators aren't going to help teachers and will watch as teachers are assaulted over and over again and are fine that kids are witnessing violence every day that really affects them. Students aren't feeling safe at school. The least restrictive environment is different for every student who is in special education. It is the least restrictive environment WHENEVER POSSIBLE that works for the student to receive educational benefit and keep everyone safe. The law states "...special classes, separate schooling or other removal of children with disabilities from the regular educational environment occurs only when the nature or severity of the disability of a child is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.”

[20 U.S.C. Sec. 1412(a)(5)(A); 34 C.F.R. Sec. 300.114; Cal. Ed. Code Sec. 56342(b).]

A student who is incredibly violent in a general education classroom shouldn't be in a general education classroom because it is not the least restrictive environment for that student because it cannot be achieved satisfactorily. Some students just can't cope with being with 20 to 25 other kids in a class and need to be in a class with 8 students where they are working on emotional regulation. A good administrator does everything in his or her power to make this happen.

The key phrase there is "such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily."

The issue is that MCPS doesn't want to provide those supplementary aids and services. So even if you can find a principal who wants to get rid of a kid, it is going to be pretty easy for the parents to challenge an alternative placement until they've been provided and failed.

The real question is why is MCPS not providing the help. These kids are begging for help. It's tragic as it will cost more long term rather than getting them the help they need early on.

It's expensive. And it is politically expedient to simply blame the problems on the kids themselves, rather than blaming the BoE and central administration for not providing the necessary resources.

Just look at this thread. Clearly everyone- teachers, students, parents- would be better off if the school devoted more resources to helping this child. But instead posters started lynching the child and their parents.

If we want the necessary resources, we need to be willing to pony up the taxes to fund them. Or we can continue to be under-funded (see the $55.7M gap just proposed by the County Executive), as has been the case for 25 years, now.

That $55.7 million includes $40 million to plug a gap in the MCPS health insurance fund caused by a mistake in setting premiums. A costly mistake. The County Executive is proposing increasing MCPS's budget from last year's budget by $128 million which is not a small amount.

Not sure that "increase" even keeps up with inflation.

People will say anything as long as it fits with their world view. It wouldn't be that hard to look this up but why would you bother? Inflation is down, my friend. If you look at the increase in benefits costs is much more than the 3.2% inflation we have had over the last 12 months.

Look closer. Wage inflation for primary and secondary school teachers for the 12 months ending in December 2023 was over 4.2%:

https://www.bls.gov/news.release/eci.t01.htm

The quarterly increases were 1.1% in March, 0.8% in June, 1.5% in September, 0.8% in December -- 1.011 * 1.008 * 1.015 * 1.008 = 1.0426493146, or about a 4.265% increase for the year. Wages (MoCo has to compete for teachers with other jurisdictions) and construction costs (another higher-than-CPI figure) are the main drivers?

If funding is even $128M more than last year, and not the $107M reported

https://moco360.media/2024/03/14/elrich-no-need-to-raise-property-taxes-to-pay-for-proposed-7-1-billion-operating-budget/

that would be maybe a 3.9% increase on a $3.3B budget (maybe 3.25% if only the $107M reported). So not as much as the appropriate inflation comparator. Meanwhile, the county budget as a whole was lifted 4.9%. Wonder where their priorities are, and have been for decades, now...

The article even quotes the county Chief Administrative Officer as saying,

"While we have a record amount of money on a per pupil basis for the upcoming year, when you compare it to inflation-adjusted dollars, we’re still not quite up to the level we were in the timeframe right before the Great Recession."

It's preposterous to say health insurance has to increase the same amount as wages. (It's also silly to say wages need to increase the same amount as wage inflation for the previous 12 months). Health cost inflation has actually been lower than the CPI . As for your point about the budget not keeping up with inflation, the point that the CAO is making us about how much money the county has. You assume that amount is infinite and we just need to increase taxes to pay for things. I don't know if you heard but the MD economy has not grown since 2017. You can't keep raising taxes on a stagnant base. And remember, the Council has to raise taxes on everyone, not just the rich people you assume will bankroll MCPS's incompetence.

.

You’re right we can’t just keep on increasing taxes. But I’ve yet to hear what people are willing to cut that equals the same amount as the shortfall. Because that is really where the rubber meets the road. When people start saying, you know what, yes I’ll give up this program or services or staff.

That is a job for budget analysts. There is no such thing as "well we don't know what to cut, so I guess you have to fund the full request!" That is not how budgets work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP. I can’t speak to every single detail mentioned but broadly speaking this is true. I just heard the water bottle story today from a neighbor.

Did they explain how someone could get significantly injured from a water bottle? Because that's the main thing that doesn't seem plausible.

Of course it’s plausible. Those metal water bottles will absolutely cause a major injury if used as a weapon.

Not when you're talking about a kindergartner. There are important details being left out here, and it isn't clear why.

It can absolutely happen with a kindergartener. I work at a different school (Germantown) and have been hit, bit, kicked, slapped (first time ever in my career) and have had things thrown at me by K students who should have been placed in a different environment. Many times these incidents happened as I was trying to prevent the student from hurting another classmate. Each incident was met with genuine concern by admin but nothing could be done to remove the student in question or speed up the process of getting an IEP. It also didn’t matter how many times I documented each incident or focused on “building relationships,” it comes down to the fact that some students need more support than a gen Ed teacher is able to offer. I love teaching but this is my last year with MCPS. It used to be that we would occasionally have one student who was out of control, but now that is the norm for almost every class at my school, with most classes having more than one student who displays these behaviors. I usually leave school at least three out of five days in a completely dysregulated state myself because I’ve spent my energy constantly co-regulating all day with students (and these are not the students I was speaking of earlier that are dangerously violent).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP. I can’t speak to every single detail mentioned but broadly speaking this is true. I just heard the water bottle story today from a neighbor.

Did they explain how someone could get significantly injured from a water bottle? Because that's the main thing that doesn't seem plausible.

Of course it’s plausible. Those metal water bottles will absolutely cause a major injury if used as a weapon.

Not when you're talking about a kindergartner. There are important details being left out here, and it isn't clear why.

It can absolutely happen with a kindergartener. I work at a different school (Germantown) and have been hit, bit, kicked, slapped (first time ever in my career) and have had things thrown at me by K students who should have been placed in a different environment. Many times these incidents happened as I was trying to prevent the student from hurting another classmate. Each incident was met with genuine concern by admin but nothing could be done to remove the student in question or speed up the process of getting an IEP. It also didn’t matter how many times I documented each incident or focused on “building relationships,” it comes down to the fact that some students need more support than a gen Ed teacher is able to offer. I love teaching but this is my last year with MCPS. It used to be that we would occasionally have one student who was out of control, but now that is the norm for almost every class at my school, with most classes having more than one student who displays these behaviors. I usually leave school at least three out of five days in a completely dysregulated state myself because I’ve spent my energy constantly co-regulating all day with students (and these are not the students I was speaking of earlier that are dangerously violent).

Yep, same. I have to stay a few more years, and I plan to move to an older grade in hopes that the most severe kids will have been outplaced by that time. From what I've seen, it takes 1-2 years of room evacuations, serious physical aggression, and other terribly disruptive behaviors to finally get a kid placed appropriately. I'm looking for a 2nd or 3rd grade placement or I'll do ESL.

[Anonymous]

Are all (or most) of the incidents of violence in Kindergarten in high FARMS schools? Or is it also common in low to middle FARMS schools? Was planning to send my kid to our local public for Kindergarten and am now wondering if it's better to send him to private. The school we're zoned for is about 30% FARMS. The middle school is known to be a mess and we've already decided he won't go there, but we're hoping there wouldn't be serious behavior problems and classroom chaos at the elementary level. I guess I'm wrong?

[Anonymous]

I think PTAs should raise money for parents to hire lawyers or advocates for special ed placements. Doesn't solve the problem of oblivious parents who refuse to accept offered services but if a school could get the most troubled kid or two from each grade the support they needed (aide, self contained, private school) it would be money well spent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And the person who was injured yesterday and has staples in her head is a paraeducator, not a classroom teacher.

Then she wasn't doing her job, assuming she was in room to help with that student.

If, of course, any part of this story is true at all.

What in the f?

Why would you assume she was in the room as a 1:1 to that student?

Why would you assume that someone doing their job as a 1:1 aide can’t be harmed by a kid?

Are we all living on the same planet where a 6 year old shot a teacher last year or were you at your home base on Mars for that?

Why? Because MCPS's standard for getting a 1:1 is far less than what has been described in this thread.

And an adult that is paying attention should be more than capable of preventing a 6 year old from obtaining and throwing an apparently heavy object. Again, if this story is actually a true story, which seems less and less likely.

You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. You think it is so easy that you stand next to the child and say -no, please stop, go back to your seat - and the out of control child automatically follows your directions?

That’s not how it works -you are trying to block getting bitten, kicked and hit at the same time to you are trying to prevent other kids from being attacked. You can’t physically restrain the out of control child like you could your own son or daughter. You really can’t touch the out of control child either. How do you prevent the child from obtaining heavy objects when the room is literally full of heavy objects. So the kid picks up a chair and you grab the chair, then get kicked in the shins at the same time and try not to fall over or get kicked again or stomped on. Meanwhile the kid rushes away from you and grabs a stapler and chucks it. Or a water bottle or heavy book. Or a pencil and tries to poke another kid.

It’s ridiculous you think it is so easy and keep denying teachers and staff members are being seriously assaulted all over the country by elementary aged students.

Very creative. But again, we're talking about a kindergartener. An adult assigned to a child should be able to prevent that child from obtaining and throwing an object like a water bottle. And a good paraeducator would be able to guide the child to calming strategies before a situation escalates to that level. That's literally the job.

Since it’s so easy you try it.

I didn't say it was easy-- I said it was the job. Unfortunately, MCPS does a terrible job training paraeducators, and makes minimal efforts to appropriately pair paraeducators with students based on their skills and needs.

Why are you so determined to underplay this, or blame the victims? I'm flummoxed about your motivations here.

I'm not underplaying it. But the fault here rests with MCPS not providing appropriate supports in the classroom, not with the 6-year-old child that some have been demonizing.

Got it. It’s your child. That’s why you’re so defensive. It’s almost impossible to get a 1:1 on an IEP AND HIRE SOMEONE FOR THE 1:1 (most 1:1 positions are considered critical staffing, which doesn’t come with benefits or paid holidays…why would you want a job w/o benefits when you could get hired as a regular para with benefits?). It’s likely the para in the room was not specifically a 1:1 and was helping multiple students at the time. Also, as pointed out earlier, you were not allowed to restrain a child or discipline in any way (per MCPS must speak in positive statements, instead of saying “no running in the halls please” we have been told to state it in the positive, “hallways are for walking.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And the person who was injured yesterday and has staples in her head is a paraeducator, not a classroom teacher.

Then she wasn't doing her job, assuming she was in room to help with that student.

If, of course, any part of this story is true at all.

What in the f?

Why would you assume she was in the room as a 1:1 to that student?

Why would you assume that someone doing their job as a 1:1 aide can’t be harmed by a kid?

Are we all living on the same planet where a 6 year old shot a teacher last year or were you at your home base on Mars for that?

Why? Because MCPS's standard for getting a 1:1 is far less than what has been described in this thread.

And an adult that is paying attention should be more than capable of preventing a 6 year old from obtaining and throwing an apparently heavy object. Again, if this story is actually a true story, which seems less and less likely.

You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. You think it is so easy that you stand next to the child and say -no, please stop, go back to your seat - and the out of control child automatically follows your directions?

That’s not how it works -you are trying to block getting bitten, kicked and hit at the same time to you are trying to prevent other kids from being attacked. You can’t physically restrain the out of control child like you could your own son or daughter. You really can’t touch the out of control child either. How do you prevent the child from obtaining heavy objects when the room is literally full of heavy objects. So the kid picks up a chair and you grab the chair, then get kicked in the shins at the same time and try not to fall over or get kicked again or stomped on. Meanwhile the kid rushes away from you and grabs a stapler and chucks it. Or a water bottle or heavy book. Or a pencil and tries to poke another kid.

It’s ridiculous you think it is so easy and keep denying teachers and staff members are being seriously assaulted all over the country by elementary aged students.

Very creative. But again, we're talking about a kindergartener. An adult assigned to a child should be able to prevent that child from obtaining and throwing an object like a water bottle. And a good paraeducator would be able to guide the child to calming strategies before a situation escalates to that level. That's literally the job.

Since it’s so easy you try it.

I didn't say it was easy-- I said it was the job. Unfortunately, MCPS does a terrible job training paraeducators, and makes minimal efforts to appropriately pair paraeducators with students based on their skills and needs.

Why are you so determined to underplay this, or blame the victims? I'm flummoxed about your motivations here.

I'm not underplaying it. But the fault here rests with MCPS not providing appropriate supports in the classroom, not with the 6-year-old child that some have been demonizing.

Got it. It’s your child. That’s why you’re so defensive. It’s almost impossible to get a 1:1 on an IEP AND HIRE SOMEONE FOR THE 1:1 (most 1:1 positions are considered critical staffing, which doesn’t come with benefits or paid holidays…why would you want a job w/o benefits when you could get hired as a regular para with benefits?). It’s likely the para in the room was not specifically a 1:1 and was helping multiple students at the time. Also, as pointed out earlier, you were not allowed to restrain a child or discipline in any way (per MCPS must speak in positive statements, instead of saying “no running in the halls please” we have been told to state it in the positive, “hallways are for walking.”

I'm not sure what your point is other than demonstrating other ways MCPS is failing kids with special needs. That should be the lesson here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think PTAs should raise money for parents to hire lawyers or advocates for special ed placements. Doesn't solve the problem of oblivious parents who refuse to accept offered services but if a school could get the most troubled kid or two from each grade the support they needed (aide, self contained, private school) it would be money well spent.

That wouldn't help unless the PTAs also
put more pressure on the BoE to budget more money to special education, and change some of the ridiculous policies that make it hard to staff paraeducators (e.g., paras should be getting benefits).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And the person who was injured yesterday and has staples in her head is a paraeducator, not a classroom teacher.

Then she wasn't doing her job, assuming she was in room to help with that student.

If, of course, any part of this story is true at all.

What in the f?

Why would you assume she was in the room as a 1:1 to that student?

Why would you assume that someone doing their job as a 1:1 aide can’t be harmed by a kid?

Are we all living on the same planet where a 6 year old shot a teacher last year or were you at your home base on Mars for that?

Why? Because MCPS's standard for getting a 1:1 is far less than what has been described in this thread.

And an adult that is paying attention should be more than capable of preventing a 6 year old from obtaining and throwing an apparently heavy object. Again, if this story is actually a true story, which seems less and less likely.

You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. You think it is so easy that you stand next to the child and say -no, please stop, go back to your seat - and the out of control child automatically follows your directions?

That’s not how it works -you are trying to block getting bitten, kicked and hit at the same time to you are trying to prevent other kids from being attacked. You can’t physically restrain the out of control child like you could your own son or daughter. You really can’t touch the out of control child either. How do you prevent the child from obtaining heavy objects when the room is literally full of heavy objects. So the kid picks up a chair and you grab the chair, then get kicked in the shins at the same time and try not to fall over or get kicked again or stomped on. Meanwhile the kid rushes away from you and grabs a stapler and chucks it. Or a water bottle or heavy book. Or a pencil and tries to poke another kid.

It’s ridiculous you think it is so easy and keep denying teachers and staff members are being seriously assaulted all over the country by elementary aged students.

Very creative. But again, we're talking about a kindergartener. An adult assigned to a child should be able to prevent that child from obtaining and throwing an object like a water bottle. And a good paraeducator would be able to guide the child to calming strategies before a situation escalates to that level. That's literally the job.

Since it’s so easy you try it.

I didn't say it was easy-- I said it was the job. Unfortunately, MCPS does a terrible job training paraeducators, and makes minimal efforts to appropriately pair paraeducators with students based on their skills and needs.

Why are you so determined to underplay this, or blame the victims? I'm flummoxed about your motivations here.

I'm not underplaying it. But the fault here rests with MCPS not providing appropriate supports in the classroom, not with the 6-year-old child that some have been demonizing.

Got it. It’s your child. That’s why you’re so defensive. It’s almost impossible to get a 1:1 on an IEP AND HIRE SOMEONE FOR THE 1:1 (most 1:1 positions are considered critical staffing, which doesn’t come with benefits or paid holidays…why would you want a job w/o benefits when you could get hired as a regular para with benefits?). It’s likely the para in the room was not specifically a 1:1 and was helping multiple students at the time. Also, as pointed out earlier, you were not allowed to restrain a child or discipline in any way (per MCPS must speak in positive statements, instead of saying “no running in the halls please” we have been told to state it in the positive, “hallways are for walking.”

I'm not sure what your point is other than demonstrating other ways MCPS is failing kids with special needs. That should be the lesson here.

MCPS is absolutely failing kids with special needs…not to mention failing teachers who are quitting/leaving because of the lack of support and being stretched way too thin. Most families are not able to hire advocates to hold MCPS accountable, and unfortunately many MCPS teachers are reaching their breaking point and are tapping out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And the person who was injured yesterday and has staples in her head is a paraeducator, not a classroom teacher.

Then she wasn't doing her job, assuming she was in room to help with that student.

If, of course, any part of this story is true at all.

What in the f?

Why would you assume she was in the room as a 1:1 to that student?

Why would you assume that someone doing their job as a 1:1 aide can’t be harmed by a kid?

Are we all living on the same planet where a 6 year old shot a teacher last year or were you at your home base on Mars for that?

Why? Because MCPS's standard for getting a 1:1 is far less than what has been described in this thread.

And an adult that is paying attention should be more than capable of preventing a 6 year old from obtaining and throwing an apparently heavy object. Again, if this story is actually a true story, which seems less and less likely.

You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. You think it is so easy that you stand next to the child and say -no, please stop, go back to your seat - and the out of control child automatically follows your directions?

That’s not how it works -you are trying to block getting bitten, kicked and hit at the same time to you are trying to prevent other kids from being attacked. You can’t physically restrain the out of control child like you could your own son or daughter. You really can’t touch the out of control child either. How do you prevent the child from obtaining heavy objects when the room is literally full of heavy objects. So the kid picks up a chair and you grab the chair, then get kicked in the shins at the same time and try not to fall over or get kicked again or stomped on. Meanwhile the kid rushes away from you and grabs a stapler and chucks it. Or a water bottle or heavy book. Or a pencil and tries to poke another kid.

It’s ridiculous you think it is so easy and keep denying teachers and staff members are being seriously assaulted all over the country by elementary aged students.

Very creative. But again, we're talking about a kindergartener. An adult assigned to a child should be able to prevent that child from obtaining and throwing an object like a water bottle. And a good paraeducator would be able to guide the child to calming strategies before a situation escalates to that level. That's literally the job.

Since it’s so easy you try it.

I didn't say it was easy-- I said it was the job. Unfortunately, MCPS does a terrible job training paraeducators, and makes minimal efforts to appropriately pair paraeducators with students based on their skills and needs.

Why are you so determined to underplay this, or blame the victims? I'm flummoxed about your motivations here.

I'm not underplaying it. But the fault here rests with MCPS not providing appropriate supports in the classroom, not with the 6-year-old child that some have been demonizing.

Got it. It’s your child. That’s why you’re so defensive. It’s almost impossible to get a 1:1 on an IEP AND HIRE SOMEONE FOR THE 1:1 (most 1:1 positions are considered critical staffing, which doesn’t come with benefits or paid holidays…why would you want a job w/o benefits when you could get hired as a regular para with benefits?). It’s likely the para in the room was not specifically a 1:1 and was helping multiple students at the time. Also, as pointed out earlier, you were not allowed to restrain a child or discipline in any way (per MCPS must speak in positive statements, instead of saying “no running in the halls please” we have been told to state it in the positive, “hallways are for walking.”

I'm not sure what your point is other than demonstrating other ways MCPS is failing kids with special needs. That should be the lesson here.

MCPS is absolutely failing kids with special needs…not to mention failing teachers who are quitting/leaving because of the lack of support and being stretched way too thin. Most families are not able to hire advocates to hold MCPS accountable, and unfortunately many MCPS teachers are reaching their breaking point and are tapping out.

Then why are there people here outraged at a 6-year-old instead of outraged at a school district with a $3.3 billion budget?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And the person who was injured yesterday and has staples in her head is a paraeducator, not a classroom teacher.

Then she wasn't doing her job, assuming she was in room to help with that student.

If, of course, any part of this story is true at all.

What in the f?

Why would you assume she was in the room as a 1:1 to that student?

Why would you assume that someone doing their job as a 1:1 aide can’t be harmed by a kid?

Are we all living on the same planet where a 6 year old shot a teacher last year or were you at your home base on Mars for that?

Why? Because MCPS's standard for getting a 1:1 is far less than what has been described in this thread.

And an adult that is paying attention should be more than capable of preventing a 6 year old from obtaining and throwing an apparently heavy object. Again, if this story is actually a true story, which seems less and less likely.

You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. You think it is so easy that you stand next to the child and say -no, please stop, go back to your seat - and the out of control child automatically follows your directions?

That’s not how it works -you are trying to block getting bitten, kicked and hit at the same time to you are trying to prevent other kids from being attacked. You can’t physically restrain the out of control child like you could your own son or daughter. You really can’t touch the out of control child either. How do you prevent the child from obtaining heavy objects when the room is literally full of heavy objects. So the kid picks up a chair and you grab the chair, then get kicked in the shins at the same time and try not to fall over or get kicked again or stomped on. Meanwhile the kid rushes away from you and grabs a stapler and chucks it. Or a water bottle or heavy book. Or a pencil and tries to poke another kid.

It’s ridiculous you think it is so easy and keep denying teachers and staff members are being seriously assaulted all over the country by elementary aged students.

Very creative. But again, we're talking about a kindergartener. An adult assigned to a child should be able to prevent that child from obtaining and throwing an object like a water bottle. And a good paraeducator would be able to guide the child to calming strategies before a situation escalates to that level. That's literally the job.

Since it’s so easy you try it.

I didn't say it was easy-- I said it was the job. Unfortunately, MCPS does a terrible job training paraeducators, and makes minimal efforts to appropriately pair paraeducators with students based on their skills and needs.

Why are you so determined to underplay this, or blame the victims? I'm flummoxed about your motivations here.

I'm not underplaying it. But the fault here rests with MCPS not providing appropriate supports in the classroom, not with the 6-year-old child that some have been demonizing.

Got it. It’s your child. That’s why you’re so defensive. It’s almost impossible to get a 1:1 on an IEP AND HIRE SOMEONE FOR THE 1:1 (most 1:1 positions are considered critical staffing, which doesn’t come with benefits or paid holidays…why would you want a job w/o benefits when you could get hired as a regular para with benefits?). It’s likely the para in the room was not specifically a 1:1 and was helping multiple students at the time. Also, as pointed out earlier, you were not allowed to restrain a child or discipline in any way (per MCPS must speak in positive statements, instead of saying “no running in the halls please” we have been told to state it in the positive, “hallways are for walking.”

I'm not sure what your point is other than demonstrating other ways MCPS is failing kids with special needs. That should be the lesson here.

MCPS is absolutely failing kids with special needs…not to mention failing teachers who are quitting/leaving because of the lack of support and being stretched way too thin. Most families are not able to hire advocates to hold MCPS accountable, and unfortunately many MCPS teachers are reaching their breaking point and are tapping out.

Then why are there people here outraged at a 6-year-old instead of outraged at a school district with a $3.3 billion budget?

We are outraged that in that school budget why aren’t kids getting the help they need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And the person who was injured yesterday and has staples in her head is a paraeducator, not a classroom teacher.

Then she wasn't doing her job, assuming she was in room to help with that student.

If, of course, any part of this story is true at all.

What in the f?

Why would you assume she was in the room as a 1:1 to that student?

Why would you assume that someone doing their job as a 1:1 aide can’t be harmed by a kid?

Are we all living on the same planet where a 6 year old shot a teacher last year or were you at your home base on Mars for that?

Why? Because MCPS's standard for getting a 1:1 is far less than what has been described in this thread.

And an adult that is paying attention should be more than capable of preventing a 6 year old from obtaining and throwing an apparently heavy object. Again, if this story is actually a true story, which seems less and less likely.

You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. You think it is so easy that you stand next to the child and say -no, please stop, go back to your seat - and the out of control child automatically follows your directions?

That’s not how it works -you are trying to block getting bitten, kicked and hit at the same time to you are trying to prevent other kids from being attacked. You can’t physically restrain the out of control child like you could your own son or daughter. You really can’t touch the out of control child either. How do you prevent the child from obtaining heavy objects when the room is literally full of heavy objects. So the kid picks up a chair and you grab the chair, then get kicked in the shins at the same time and try not to fall over or get kicked again or stomped on. Meanwhile the kid rushes away from you and grabs a stapler and chucks it. Or a water bottle or heavy book. Or a pencil and tries to poke another kid.

It’s ridiculous you think it is so easy and keep denying teachers and staff members are being seriously assaulted all over the country by elementary aged students.

Very creative. But again, we're talking about a kindergartener. An adult assigned to a child should be able to prevent that child from obtaining and throwing an object like a water bottle. And a good paraeducator would be able to guide the child to calming strategies before a situation escalates to that level. That's literally the job.

Since it’s so easy you try it.

I didn't say it was easy-- I said it was the job. Unfortunately, MCPS does a terrible job training paraeducators, and makes minimal efforts to appropriately pair paraeducators with students based on their skills and needs.

Why are you so determined to underplay this, or blame the victims? I'm flummoxed about your motivations here.

I'm not underplaying it. But the fault here rests with MCPS not providing appropriate supports in the classroom, not with the 6-year-old child that some have been demonizing.

Got it. It’s your child. That’s why you’re so defensive. It’s almost impossible to get a 1:1 on an IEP AND HIRE SOMEONE FOR THE 1:1 (most 1:1 positions are considered critical staffing, which doesn’t come with benefits or paid holidays…why would you want a job w/o benefits when you could get hired as a regular para with benefits?). It’s likely the para in the room was not specifically a 1:1 and was helping multiple students at the time. Also, as pointed out earlier, you were not allowed to restrain a child or discipline in any way (per MCPS must speak in positive statements, instead of saying “no running in the halls please” we have been told to state it in the positive, “hallways are for walking.”

I'm not sure what your point is other than demonstrating other ways MCPS is failing kids with special needs. That should be the lesson here.

MCPS is absolutely failing kids with special needs…not to mention failing teachers who are quitting/leaving because of the lack of support and being stretched way too thin. Most families are not able to hire advocates to hold MCPS accountable, and unfortunately many MCPS teachers are reaching their breaking point and are tapping out.

Then why are there people here outraged at a 6-year-old instead of outraged at a school district with a $3.3 billion budget?

We are outraged that in that school budget why aren’t kids getting the help they need.

Look at the posts in this thread. People are basically suggesting we should lock up a young child. They're not concerned about him.