Should I be disappointed - Preschool Teacher Intro

[Anonymous]

We just met our DH teacher at preschool, during orientation, they casually mentions another kid with "Austim" and almost points at the other kid, says their name. I was taken aback...isn't this information confidential? I don't want to know about other kids developmental stages, nor do I want my DH's information shared either. We don't even use the DX as a label, so it was a bit disappointing. Should I say anything to the teacher/head of school?

[Anonymous]

That is confidential information, and she should never have done that!

[Anonymous]

Yes, that's way way super duper inappropriate. I would try to politely call it out by saying "Oh, I don't need to know that."

[Anonymous]

You could be upset about the disclosure of confidential information or you could take it as a gesture of inclusion. You will discover that many kids have ADHD or ASD and that many of them will naturally find each other. Now you have a leg up on that.

FWIW, your DC will decide as they grow up whether and who to tell - but autism is not an invisible disease.

[Anonymous]

People do this.

I operate on the principle that when my son was little, everyone might possibly be talking about him anyway. At least, this is certainly what some adults and kids did, because some of his behaviors were noticeable.

Now he's in college. I am sure some people will continue to find him "weird" and talk about him. But that's life. The goal is that he can be financially independent. Anything else is cherry on top.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could be upset about the disclosure of confidential information or you could take it as a gesture of inclusion. You will discover that many kids have ADHD or ASD and that many of them will naturally find each other. Now you have a leg up on that.

FWIW, your DC will decide as they grow up whether and who to tell - but autism is not an invisible disease.

What's weird about it is the teacher so casually violating kids' privacy rights. It's not a "gesture of inclusion" to break the law whenever you happen to feel like it.

[Anonymous]

It's super not okay and I would tell the assistant principal or SPED coordinator that the teacher needs a review of FERPA.

If they'll break this law so casually, to someone they've only just met, who knows what else they're violating. It's a red flag for SPED compliance generally.

[Anonymous]

Maybe the parent asked the teacher to disclose?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the parent asked the teacher to disclose?

Parents don't usually ask teachers to share things haphazardly at orientation. And most teachers will, to avoid a FERPA violation, facilitate the parents doing the disclosure themselves. If the parent wants to disclose, they can use the class list to tell the other parents, or tell them in person, or visit the classroom to introduce and explain. Teachers telling other parents things about other kids is a bad road to go down even with consent.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for the messages, indeed, it may not be invisible for some, but it might not be apparent & it certainly rubbed me the wrong way. I don't want to start off the school year by "complaining" so was considering boiling this one off, but it's just not sitting right. It just felt so cavalier...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's super not okay and I would tell the assistant principal or SPED coordinator that the teacher needs a review of FERPA.

If they'll break this law so casually, to someone they've only just met, who knows what else they're violating. It's a red flag for SPED compliance generally.

It's a preschool. Unless it's public, any sped compliance is voluntary. FERPA also only applies if they accept federal money

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just met our DH teacher at preschool, during orientation, they casually mentions another kid with "Austim" and almost points at the other kid, says their name. I was taken aback...isn't this information confidential? I don't want to know about other kids developmental stages, nor do I want my DH's information shared either. We don't even use the DX as a label, so it was a bit disappointing. Should I say anything to the teacher/head of school?

You don't give a lot of specifics, but the teacher sounded vague enough that it doesn't sound like there's a breach if anything.

The term "autism" isn't disclosing anything terribly private, no more than saying theres a kid with food allergies in the classroom.

And you claim she "almost points to the other kid"...I don't know Op. Kinda sounds like you're looking for drama.

[Anonymous]

Extremely unprofessional. I would change schools. If they act like this, what other standards are they violating?

[Anonymous]

FYI “DH” refers to your husband
DC - child
DS -son
DD- daughter

[Anonymous]

That's not good