Apologizing in advance to teachers and families

[Anonymous]

It looks like we're off to a challenging year for my child's teacher and class. We fought for stronger classroom supports, but have been rejected. it is possible they'll reconsider after this week, but it didn't work out that way last year.

I know a lot of people in MCPS, parents and staff, don't particularly care about the quality of special education. But the decision to limit special education funding and resources doesn't just affect the students with special needs- it directly affects everyone around them.

I always feel sorry for my child's teacher and classmates, but please know I'm doing everything I possibly can to improve the situation. But I'm not going to be effective without your help.

[Anonymous]

They increased funding and staff. Get your kid private help and an advocate. MCPS is terrible .

[Anonymous]

What can other parents can do to help? I wouldn’t normally complain to administrators about a disruptive classmate of my child’s who is struggling, but if that child’s parents asked fellow parents to voice concerns to help build their case for more supports, I would.

Big hugs to you and your dc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They increased funding and staff. Get your kid private help and an advocate. MCPS is terrible .

They're receiving a variety of private therapies, but that doesn't directly and immediately affect the classroom. Even if we could get a private behavioral technician during the day, MCPS wouldn't allow them in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What can other parents can do to help? I wouldn’t normally complain to administrators about a disruptive classmate of my child’s who is struggling, but if that child’s parents asked fellow parents to voice concerns to help build their case for more supports, I would.

Big hugs to you and your dc.

I think it is possible to raise your own concerns and advocate for change without demonizing the child. The problem is that some people approach these situations hoping to get the child kicked out of the class, rather than trying to bring on effective supports and services.

Particularly at the elementary level, if you're hearing about something from one of your kids, the situation for the other child is almost certainly awful. There's a good chance the parents and the teacher have been trying to get more support in the classroom, but maybe haven't been getting much support from the principal.

The best place to start is the classroom teacher. Unfortunately, until or unless you have a good relationship with the teacher, they might not be forthcoming with you about the needs and challenges in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What can other parents can do to help? I wouldn’t normally complain to administrators about a disruptive classmate of my child’s who is struggling, but if that child’s parents asked fellow parents to voice concerns to help build their case for more supports, I would.

Big hugs to you and your dc.

I think it is possible to raise your own concerns and advocate for change without demonizing the child. The problem is that some people approach these situations hoping to get the child kicked out of the class, rather than trying to bring on effective supports and services.

Particularly at the elementary level, if you're hearing about something from one of your kids, the situation for the other child is almost certainly awful. There's a good chance the parents and the teacher have been trying to get more support in the classroom, but maybe haven't been getting much support from the principal.

The best place to start is the classroom teacher. Unfortunately, until or unless you have a good relationship with the teacher, they might not be forthcoming with you about the needs and challenges in the classroom.

DP
I'm not someone who has ever tried to get a child kicked out of the classroom. However, on a day when parents were allowed to observe - I saw a child that clearly wasn't getting the supports they needed and as a result the classroom teacher was responsible for very frequent redirecting. I would have been happy to contact the teacher to share that I think that child should get more support, but I think the teacher definitely knew that and it would be a little bizarre and overstepping to contact the principal about this. I believe the child ultimately did get a different ( and hopefully better) placement so I presume they were going through the necessary processes. All this to say is I am not sure how as a parent observing this, how I could advocate respectfully for that child. As it is, I didn't say anything.

[Anonymous]

Sending you strength, OP. My son with SN had no behavioral needs, but all my kids were in classes with dysregulated students, and I felt for everyone involved. It's not like kids choose to act out!

[Anonymous]

^ and you don't need to apologize!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What can other parents can do to help? I wouldn’t normally complain to administrators about a disruptive classmate of my child’s who is struggling, but if that child’s parents asked fellow parents to voice concerns to help build their case for more supports, I would.

Big hugs to you and your dc.

I think it is possible to raise your own concerns and advocate for change without demonizing the child. The problem is that some people approach these situations hoping to get the child kicked out of the class, rather than trying to bring on effective supports and services.

Particularly at the elementary level, if you're hearing about something from one of your kids, the situation for the other child is almost certainly awful. There's a good chance the parents and the teacher have been trying to get more support in the classroom, but maybe haven't been getting much support from the principal.

The best place to start is the classroom teacher. Unfortunately, until or unless you have a good relationship with the teacher, they might not be forthcoming with you about the needs and challenges in the classroom.

DP
I'm not someone who has ever tried to get a child kicked out of the classroom. However, on a day when parents were allowed to observe - I saw a child that clearly wasn't getting the supports they needed and as a result the classroom teacher was responsible for very frequent redirecting. I would have been happy to contact the teacher to share that I think that child should get more support, but I think the teacher definitely knew that and it would be a little bizarre and overstepping to contact the principal about this. I believe the child ultimately did get a different ( and hopefully better) placement so I presume they were going through the necessary processes. All this to say is I am not sure how as a parent observing this, how I could advocate respectfully for that child. As it is, I didn't say anything.

OP. I didn't mean to suggest that the teacher wouldn't know- obviously they would. Rather, I was basically trying to say they may or may not indicate (or indirectly suggest) that it would be helpful to contact the principal. requests for critical staffing need to go through the principal.

[Anonymous]

Is your child in a home school model or special program? I have worked in SPED and I know there are some incredibly hardworking staff who truly care about getting the best supports for their students, but I’m also aware of programs that are absolute messes. There is also a lot of red tape from the higher ups despite best efforts from school based staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is your child in a home school model or special program? I have worked in SPED and I know there are some incredibly hardworking staff who truly care about getting the best supports for their students, but I’m also aware of programs that are absolute messes. There is also a lot of red tape from the higher ups despite best efforts from school based staff.

Home school. The teachers and special education staff have been great, but there's only so much they can do when they have a large number of kids under them.

[Anonymous]

If you complain about anything in education they will blame it on the teacher scapegoats. Someone's gotta take the blame. New teachers will get all the negativity and bullying from the old tenured protected teachers. It's an abusive top down structure we call education. Even the old lady secretaries have more power and autonomy than teachers with Masters degrees bc they work as the sidekicks of the admin to dole out negativity for the admins.