Bethesda Today: Behavioral issues, lack of support creating unsafe classrooms

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A big issue is that many parents no longer enforce any rules or accept that their child is out of control. The article describes one parent who is upset because her child had cause a big enough disturbance behavioral outburst that an entire kindergarten class had to be evacuated. Is she bothered that 20 other students couldn't learn and many were scared or that a teacher's classroom that they spent hours arranging with many items they personally purchased is in disarray? No, the parent is upset because they were initially told they couldn't leave until it was picked up. So obviously, the parent and child did not pick up the room. The teacher had to stay late to pick up everything that got thrown and overturned and trashed.

The article says the student had impulse control issues and trouble keeping his hands to himself. Then they seem surprised “We would go to pick him up at the end of the day and someone would walk him out holding him at arm’s length, like he was a wild animal,” one of the parents said. “I am shocked and appalled at how our son was treated by the system.” But the parent is NOT shocked or appalled at how their child's behavior is affecting the teacher and other students. What does the parent think the school can do? No one wants to be kicked or hit.

In past years kids that hit others, ran away from classrooms, and threw things like staplers, books, etc. were restrained. They were absolutely not allowed to run amok. Instead of an entire classroom having to evacuate a room, the student was removed by staff members and put in a place where there were no other children. This no longer happens.

In past years students with special needs who needed to be in a classroom of 8-12 children to progress academically or because they had language delays or sensory issues or ADHD, etc. were placed in a special education classroom the majority of the school day. They could tailor the classroom for students who needed extra movement, who needed more breaks, who needed more prizes because they have to work harder to learn to read, etc. Students got work on their level, they could work and get immediate feedback from the teacher and aide because the ratios were much lower. These students had mild to moderate needs that were effectively addressed so there were not as many behavior problems. Now the push for inclusion at all costs is making so many kids absolutely miserable. Districts have removed these types of classrooms. If they existed many students would not need a classroom for social emotional learning because they would not end up so angry because would be in an appropriate classroom.

Not all kids can learn with 20 to 25 or more students. Not every student is ready in K to learn to read. Too many students are expected even in K to sit too long, to focus too much on structured academics instead of having engaging in active play where they learn to get along with others, learn to listen, take turns, use their imagination, etc.

Not all kids with those concerns need special classrooms. Kids with adhd or speech issues were never put in their own classrooms nor should be depending on the severity. And, expectations or appropriate and if anything dumbed down as parents like you had a fit. You are an equal problem. This level of behavior problem is on a completely different level that you don’t get.

Obviously not all kids with those concerns need special classrooms. But a small percentage actually do. And yes they were sometimes put in a small special education classroom when I started working as a school psychologist in 1999. And so many of them were so much happier and made much more progress. The schools I have worked at that push the inclusion at all cost model have so many behavior problems and so many miserable students. The best model is that the students are not in a special education classroom all day but they start in their general education classrooms then after around 20 minutes they go to a special education classroom for reading for 90 minutes or for math and reading until lunch. Then they go back to the general education classroom. The students who just need 30 minutes a day or 2-3 times a week get pulled out in the afternoons.

So many special education students benefit from being pulled out to work in small groups of 3-6 with special education teacher and aids in small groups every day for 2-3 hours. They get personalized attention, the teachers can take the time to understand what the students who have difficulty expressing themselves are trying to say so those students finally participate and start talking. The teacher in a small group can immediately pull up a picture on the internet to show students if they don't know what a vocabulary word is, students get work at their level and get praised for finishing it, they see other students at their academic level so they feel encouraged they might be the best in the small group. They can get frequent opportunities to earn stickers/tokens to earn prizes because they are working hard. It is far easier for students who have trouble sitting still and concentrating when you are rotating for 20 minutes from a special education teacher to one aide then after 20 minutes to another. The teacher can see when a kid needs a break or is having a bad day. They can take a break and do a follow a step by step art lesson to feel successful. They can get homework on their level. One teacher even had the students learn a 4 minute play the talent show. There would be zero chance they would get staring roles in their general education classrooms. So for the students who really struggle in school being in a supportive environment they can go into a classroom where they feel valued and supported.

Now compare that to the inclusion model where these 12-16 students are all in different classrooms instead being grouped together and the special education teacher and two aids push into general education classrooms. The special ed teacher in the course of 3 hours might go for 30 minutes into 6 different classrooms. The students have to sit in classrooms where the work is way too hard for many of them and then are embarrassed that an adult is coming to sit next to them because they are so low, where kids snicker if they say something wrong so they do not say much of anything all day, etc. They don't want to go to a back table and have other students hear how they struggle to read. So it isn't all of those 12-16 students perhaps it is 4-6 students who are like "f this" I am going to cause a disruption since I can't do the work anyways or I am going to run out of the classroom or make noises or throw my crayon across the room. So then they get sent to the office or to the counseling office and they get some attention. They soon learn it is so much better to cause a disruption to get out of class. Now you have the special education teacher dealing with those 4-6 students while the other 8-12 students who should be pulled out for hours in the morning and the other 8-10 students who get pulled out in the afternoons get ignored.

What is happening now is ridiculous. Special education is supposed to be individualized. There needs to be a range of options available. It shouldn't be the only options are a special day special education class all day or 100% inclusion. However, so many advocates are pushing inclusion at all cost. There are huge initiatives that push all students need to be included at least 80% of the day and so many advocates who want to see 100% inclusion by all students 100% of the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A big issue is that many parents no longer enforce any rules or accept that their child is out of control. The article describes one parent who is upset because her child had cause a big enough disturbance behavioral outburst that an entire kindergarten class had to be evacuated. Is she bothered that 20 other students couldn't learn and many were scared or that a teacher's classroom that they spent hours arranging with many items they personally purchased is in disarray? No, the parent is upset because they were initially told they couldn't leave until it was picked up. So obviously, the parent and child did not pick up the room. The teacher had to stay late to pick up everything that got thrown and overturned and trashed.

The article says the student had impulse control issues and trouble keeping his hands to himself. Then they seem surprised “We would go to pick him up at the end of the day and someone would walk him out holding him at arm’s length, like he was a wild animal,” one of the parents said. “I am shocked and appalled at how our son was treated by the system.” But the parent is NOT shocked or appalled at how their child's behavior is affecting the teacher and other students. What does the parent think the school can do? No one wants to be kicked or hit.

In past years kids that hit others, ran away from classrooms, and threw things like staplers, books, etc. were restrained. They were absolutely not allowed to run amok. Instead of an entire classroom having to evacuate a room, the student was removed by staff members and put in a place where there were no other children. This no longer happens.

In past years students with special needs who needed to be in a classroom of 8-12 children to progress academically or because they had language delays or sensory issues or ADHD, etc. were placed in a special education classroom the majority of the school day. They could tailor the classroom for students who needed extra movement, who needed more breaks, who needed more prizes because they have to work harder to learn to read, etc. Students got work on their level, they could work and get immediate feedback from the teacher and aide because the ratios were much lower. These students had mild to moderate needs that were effectively addressed so there were not as many behavior problems. Now the push for inclusion at all costs is making so many kids absolutely miserable. Districts have removed these types of classrooms. If they existed many students would not need a classroom for social emotional learning because they would not end up so angry because would be in an appropriate classroom.

Not all kids can learn with 20 to 25 or more students. Not every student is ready in K to learn to read. Too many students are expected even in K to sit too long, to focus too much on structured academics instead of having engaging in active play where they learn to get along with others, learn to listen, take turns, use their imagination, etc.

Not all kids with those concerns need special classrooms. Kids with adhd or speech issues were never put in their own classrooms nor should be depending on the severity. And, expectations or appropriate and if anything dumbed down as parents like you had a fit. You are an equal problem. This level of behavior problem is on a completely different level that you don’t get.

Obviously not all kids with those concerns need special classrooms. But a small percentage actually do. And yes they were sometimes put in a small special education classroom when I started working as a school psychologist in 1999. And so many of them were so much happier and made much more progress. The schools I have worked at that push the inclusion at all cost model have so many behavior problems and so many miserable students. The best model is that the students are not in a special education classroom all day but they start in their general education classrooms then after around 20 minutes they go to a special education classroom for reading for 90 minutes or for math and reading until lunch. Then they go back to the general education classroom. The students who just need 30 minutes a day or 2-3 times a week get pulled out in the afternoons.

So many special education students benefit from being pulled out to work in small groups of 3-6 with special education teacher and aids in small groups every day for 2-3 hours. They get personalized attention, the teachers can take the time to understand what the students who have difficulty expressing themselves are trying to say so those students finally participate and start talking. The teacher in a small group can immediately pull up a picture on the internet to show students if they don't know what a vocabulary word is, students get work at their level and get praised for finishing it, they see other students at their academic level so they feel encouraged they might be the best in the small group. They can get frequent opportunities to earn stickers/tokens to earn prizes because they are working hard. It is far easier for students who have trouble sitting still and concentrating when you are rotating for 20 minutes from a special education teacher to one aide then after 20 minutes to another. The teacher can see when a kid needs a break or is having a bad day. They can take a break and do a follow a step by step art lesson to feel successful. They can get homework on their level. One teacher even had the students learn a 4 minute play the talent show. There would be zero chance they would get staring roles in their general education classrooms. So for the students who really struggle in school being in a supportive environment they can go into a classroom where they feel valued and supported.

Now compare that to the inclusion model where these 12-16 students are all in different classrooms instead being grouped together and the special education teacher and two aids push into general education classrooms. The special ed teacher in the course of 3 hours might go for 30 minutes into 6 different classrooms. The students have to sit in classrooms where the work is way too hard for many of them and then are embarrassed that an adult is coming to sit next to them because they are so low, where kids snicker if they say something wrong so they do not say much of anything all day, etc. They don't want to go to a back table and have other students hear how they struggle to read. So it isn't all of those 12-16 students perhaps it is 4-6 students who are like "f this" I am going to cause a disruption since I can't do the work anyways or I am going to run out of the classroom or make noises or throw my crayon across the room. So then they get sent to the office or to the counseling office and they get some attention. They soon learn it is so much better to cause a disruption to get out of class. Now you have the special education teacher dealing with those 4-6 students while the other 8-12 students who should be pulled out for hours in the morning and the other 8-10 students who get pulled out in the afternoons get ignored.

What is happening now is ridiculous. Special education is supposed to be individualized. There needs to be a range of options available. It shouldn't be the only options are a special day special education class all day or 100% inclusion. However, so many advocates are pushing inclusion at all cost. There are huge initiatives that push all students need to be included at least 80% of the day and so many advocates who want to see 100% inclusion by all students 100% of the day.

This. When will common sense be allowed in SpEd decision-making?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A big issue is that many parents no longer enforce any rules or accept that their child is out of control. The article describes one parent who is upset because her child had cause a big enough disturbance behavioral outburst that an entire kindergarten class had to be evacuated. Is she bothered that 20 other students couldn't learn and many were scared or that a teacher's classroom that they spent hours arranging with many items they personally purchased is in disarray? No, the parent is upset because they were initially told they couldn't leave until it was picked up. So obviously, the parent and child did not pick up the room. The teacher had to stay late to pick up everything that got thrown and overturned and trashed.

The article says the student had impulse control issues and trouble keeping his hands to himself. Then they seem surprised “We would go to pick him up at the end of the day and someone would walk him out holding him at arm’s length, like he was a wild animal,” one of the parents said. “I am shocked and appalled at how our son was treated by the system.” But the parent is NOT shocked or appalled at how their child's behavior is affecting the teacher and other students. What does the parent think the school can do? No one wants to be kicked or hit.

In past years kids that hit others, ran away from classrooms, and threw things like staplers, books, etc. were restrained. They were absolutely not allowed to run amok. Instead of an entire classroom having to evacuate a room, the student was removed by staff members and put in a place where there were no other children. This no longer happens.

In past years students with special needs who needed to be in a classroom of 8-12 children to progress academically or because they had language delays or sensory issues or ADHD, etc. were placed in a special education classroom the majority of the school day. They could tailor the classroom for students who needed extra movement, who needed more breaks, who needed more prizes because they have to work harder to learn to read, etc. Students got work on their level, they could work and get immediate feedback from the teacher and aide because the ratios were much lower. These students had mild to moderate needs that were effectively addressed so there were not as many behavior problems. Now the push for inclusion at all costs is making so many kids absolutely miserable. Districts have removed these types of classrooms. If they existed many students would not need a classroom for social emotional learning because they would not end up so angry because would be in an appropriate classroom.

Not all kids can learn with 20 to 25 or more students. Not every student is ready in K to learn to read. Too many students are expected even in K to sit too long, to focus too much on structured academics instead of having engaging in active play where they learn to get along with others, learn to listen, take turns, use their imagination, etc.

Not all kids with those concerns need special classrooms. Kids with adhd or speech issues were never put in their own classrooms nor should be depending on the severity. And, expectations or appropriate and if anything dumbed down as parents like you had a fit. You are an equal problem. This level of behavior problem is on a completely different level that you don’t get.

Obviously not all kids with those concerns need special classrooms. But a small percentage actually do. And yes they were sometimes put in a small special education classroom when I started working as a school psychologist in 1999. And so many of them were so much happier and made much more progress. The schools I have worked at that push the inclusion at all cost model have so many behavior problems and so many miserable students. The best model is that the students are not in a special education classroom all day but they start in their general education classrooms then after around 20 minutes they go to a special education classroom for reading for 90 minutes or for math and reading until lunch. Then they go back to the general education classroom. The students who just need 30 minutes a day or 2-3 times a week get pulled out in the afternoons.

So many special education students benefit from being pulled out to work in small groups of 3-6 with special education teacher and aids in small groups every day for 2-3 hours. They get personalized attention, the teachers can take the time to understand what the students who have difficulty expressing themselves are trying to say so those students finally participate and start talking. The teacher in a small group can immediately pull up a picture on the internet to show students if they don't know what a vocabulary word is, students get work at their level and get praised for finishing it, they see other students at their academic level so they feel encouraged they might be the best in the small group. They can get frequent opportunities to earn stickers/tokens to earn prizes because they are working hard. It is far easier for students who have trouble sitting still and concentrating when you are rotating for 20 minutes from a special education teacher to one aide then after 20 minutes to another. The teacher can see when a kid needs a break or is having a bad day. They can take a break and do a follow a step by step art lesson to feel successful. They can get homework on their level. One teacher even had the students learn a 4 minute play the talent show. There would be zero chance they would get staring roles in their general education classrooms. So for the students who really struggle in school being in a supportive environment they can go into a classroom where they feel valued and supported.

Now compare that to the inclusion model where these 12-16 students are all in different classrooms instead being grouped together and the special education teacher and two aids push into general education classrooms. The special ed teacher in the course of 3 hours might go for 30 minutes into 6 different classrooms. The students have to sit in classrooms where the work is way too hard for many of them and then are embarrassed that an adult is coming to sit next to them because they are so low, where kids snicker if they say something wrong so they do not say much of anything all day, etc. They don't want to go to a back table and have other students hear how they struggle to read. So it isn't all of those 12-16 students perhaps it is 4-6 students who are like "f this" I am going to cause a disruption since I can't do the work anyways or I am going to run out of the classroom or make noises or throw my crayon across the room. So then they get sent to the office or to the counseling office and they get some attention. They soon learn it is so much better to cause a disruption to get out of class. Now you have the special education teacher dealing with those 4-6 students while the other 8-12 students who should be pulled out for hours in the morning and the other 8-10 students who get pulled out in the afternoons get ignored.

What is happening now is ridiculous. Special education is supposed to be individualized. There needs to be a range of options available. It shouldn't be the only options are a special day special education class all day or 100% inclusion. However, so many advocates are pushing inclusion at all cost. There are huge initiatives that push all students need to be included at least 80% of the day and so many advocates who want to see 100% inclusion by all students 100% of the day.

Mcps took away an autism program, trade program and mva. No one cared. So, stop complaining. You all were ok with the autism program closing as no one made a stink. Mcps doesn’t care as there is no accountability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work in an MCPS high school. It was interesting to read the article which focuses on the elementary school perspective. High schools are out of control and it is mainly due to the lack of structure and consequences. Certainly people and children have changed since the pandemic, but kids respond to structure. Put rules in place with consequences, and most kids will conform to reasonable behavioral norms.

It's frustrating to watch BOE meetings knowing they have no idea what really goes on in schools. I'd love for BOE members and MCPS higher ups to visit schools - unannounced - and just see what goes on in a normal day. Maybe substitute teach occasionally to get a glimpse in the day in the life of students and staff. (Not announced tours with the Principal where everyone is on their best behavior).

The kids need rules, consequences and structure. Most will rise to the occasion.

Our principal is weak and cares more about being friends than anything. It was much better run when we had an intern who was tuffer. BOE members don’t care. It’s all for show.

[Anonymous]

Nothing is going to change. It’s very depressing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A big issue is that many parents no longer enforce any rules or accept that their child is out of control. The article describes one parent who is upset because her child had cause a big enough disturbance behavioral outburst that an entire kindergarten class had to be evacuated. Is she bothered that 20 other students couldn't learn and many were scared or that a teacher's classroom that they spent hours arranging with many items they personally purchased is in disarray? No, the parent is upset because they were initially told they couldn't leave until it was picked up. So obviously, the parent and child did not pick up the room. The teacher had to stay late to pick up everything that got thrown and overturned and trashed.

The article says the student had impulse control issues and trouble keeping his hands to himself. Then they seem surprised “We would go to pick him up at the end of the day and someone would walk him out holding him at arm’s length, like he was a wild animal,” one of the parents said. “I am shocked and appalled at how our son was treated by the system.” But the parent is NOT shocked or appalled at how their child's behavior is affecting the teacher and other students. What does the parent think the school can do? No one wants to be kicked or hit.

In past years kids that hit others, ran away from classrooms, and threw things like staplers, books, etc. were restrained. They were absolutely not allowed to run amok. Instead of an entire classroom having to evacuate a room, the student was removed by staff members and put in a place where there were no other children. This no longer happens.

In past years students with special needs who needed to be in a classroom of 8-12 children to progress academically or because they had language delays or sensory issues or ADHD, etc. were placed in a special education classroom the majority of the school day. They could tailor the classroom for students who needed extra movement, who needed more breaks, who needed more prizes because they have to work harder to learn to read, etc. Students got work on their level, they could work and get immediate feedback from the teacher and aide because the ratios were much lower. These students had mild to moderate needs that were effectively addressed so there were not as many behavior problems. Now the push for inclusion at all costs is making so many kids absolutely miserable. Districts have removed these types of classrooms. If they existed many students would not need a classroom for social emotional learning because they would not end up so angry because would be in an appropriate classroom.

Not all kids can learn with 20 to 25 or more students. Not every student is ready in K to learn to read. Too many students are expected even in K to sit too long, to focus too much on structured academics instead of having engaging in active play where they learn to get along with others, learn to listen, take turns, use their imagination, etc.

Not all kids with those concerns need special classrooms. Kids with adhd or speech issues were never put in their own classrooms nor should be depending on the severity. And, expectations or appropriate and if anything dumbed down as parents like you had a fit. You are an equal problem. This level of behavior problem is on a completely different level that you don’t get.

Obviously not all kids with those concerns need special classrooms. But a small percentage actually do. And yes they were sometimes put in a small special education classroom when I started working as a school psychologist in 1999. And so many of them were so much happier and made much more progress. The schools I have worked at that push the inclusion at all cost model have so many behavior problems and so many miserable students. The best model is that the students are not in a special education classroom all day but they start in their general education classrooms then after around 20 minutes they go to a special education classroom for reading for 90 minutes or for math and reading until lunch. Then they go back to the general education classroom. The students who just need 30 minutes a day or 2-3 times a week get pulled out in the afternoons.

So many special education students benefit from being pulled out to work in small groups of 3-6 with special education teacher and aids in small groups every day for 2-3 hours. They get personalized attention, the teachers can take the time to understand what the students who have difficulty expressing themselves are trying to say so those students finally participate and start talking. The teacher in a small group can immediately pull up a picture on the internet to show students if they don't know what a vocabulary word is, students get work at their level and get praised for finishing it, they see other students at their academic level so they feel encouraged they might be the best in the small group. They can get frequent opportunities to earn stickers/tokens to earn prizes because they are working hard. It is far easier for students who have trouble sitting still and concentrating when you are rotating for 20 minutes from a special education teacher to one aide then after 20 minutes to another. The teacher can see when a kid needs a break or is having a bad day. They can take a break and do a follow a step by step art lesson to feel successful. They can get homework on their level. One teacher even had the students learn a 4 minute play the talent show. There would be zero chance they would get staring roles in their general education classrooms. So for the students who really struggle in school being in a supportive environment they can go into a classroom where they feel valued and supported.

Now compare that to the inclusion model where these 12-16 students are all in different classrooms instead being grouped together and the special education teacher and two aids push into general education classrooms. The special ed teacher in the course of 3 hours might go for 30 minutes into 6 different classrooms. The students have to sit in classrooms where the work is way too hard for many of them and then are embarrassed that an adult is coming to sit next to them because they are so low, where kids snicker if they say something wrong so they do not say much of anything all day, etc. They don't want to go to a back table and have other students hear how they struggle to read. So it isn't all of those 12-16 students perhaps it is 4-6 students who are like "f this" I am going to cause a disruption since I can't do the work anyways or I am going to run out of the classroom or make noises or throw my crayon across the room. So then they get sent to the office or to the counseling office and they get some attention. They soon learn it is so much better to cause a disruption to get out of class. Now you have the special education teacher dealing with those 4-6 students while the other 8-12 students who should be pulled out for hours in the morning and the other 8-10 students who get pulled out in the afternoons get ignored.

What is happening now is ridiculous. Special education is supposed to be individualized. There needs to be a range of options available. It shouldn't be the only options are a special day special education class all day or 100% inclusion. However, so many advocates are pushing inclusion at all cost. There are huge initiatives that push all students need to be included at least 80% of the day and so many advocates who want to see 100% inclusion by all students 100% of the day.

Mcps took away an autism program, trade program and mva. No one cared. So, stop complaining. You all were ok with the autism program closing as no one made a stink. Mcps doesn’t care as there is no accountability.

💯. The only time these parents pretended to care was during Covid and they hijacked caring about special education kids simply because they no longer wanted their own kids in the house

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of my second grade students cussed me out today because she didn't like the lunch her mom packed for her. Her mom wouldn't bring her a different one and you would have thought the world was coming to an end. Sadly, that's actually a mild example of what's going on in our elementary schools right now. The hitting, throwing of furniture, defiance, etc. is through the roof. I am so glad that this is my last year. Six years was enough for me in this line of work.

Good for you, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A big issue is that many parents no longer enforce any rules or accept that their child is out of control. The article describes one parent who is upset because her child had cause a big enough disturbance behavioral outburst that an entire kindergarten class had to be evacuated. Is she bothered that 20 other students couldn't learn and many were scared or that a teacher's classroom that they spent hours arranging with many items they personally purchased is in disarray? No, the parent is upset because they were initially told they couldn't leave until it was picked up. So obviously, the parent and child did not pick up the room. The teacher had to stay late to pick up everything that got thrown and overturned and trashed.

The article says the student had impulse control issues and trouble keeping his hands to himself. Then they seem surprised “We would go to pick him up at the end of the day and someone would walk him out holding him at arm’s length, like he was a wild animal,” one of the parents said. “I am shocked and appalled at how our son was treated by the system.” But the parent is NOT shocked or appalled at how their child's behavior is affecting the teacher and other students. What does the parent think the school can do? No one wants to be kicked or hit.

In past years kids that hit others, ran away from classrooms, and threw things like staplers, books, etc. were restrained. They were absolutely not allowed to run amok. Instead of an entire classroom having to evacuate a room, the student was removed by staff members and put in a place where there were no other children. This no longer happens.

In past years students with special needs who needed to be in a classroom of 8-12 children to progress academically or because they had language delays or sensory issues or ADHD, etc. were placed in a special education classroom the majority of the school day. They could tailor the classroom for students who needed extra movement, who needed more breaks, who needed more prizes because they have to work harder to learn to read, etc. Students got work on their level, they could work and get immediate feedback from the teacher and aide because the ratios were much lower. These students had mild to moderate needs that were effectively addressed so there were not as many behavior problems. Now the push for inclusion at all costs is making so many kids absolutely miserable. Districts have removed these types of classrooms. If they existed many students would not need a classroom for social emotional learning because they would not end up so angry because would be in an appropriate classroom.

Not all kids can learn with 20 to 25 or more students. Not every student is ready in K to learn to read. Too many students are expected even in K to sit too long, to focus too much on structured academics instead of having engaging in active play where they learn to get along with others, learn to listen, take turns, use their imagination, etc.

Not all kids with those concerns need special classrooms. Kids with adhd or speech issues were never put in their own classrooms nor should be depending on the severity. And, expectations or appropriate and if anything dumbed down as parents like you had a fit. You are an equal problem. This level of behavior problem is on a completely different level that you don’t get.

Obviously not all kids with those concerns need special classrooms. But a small percentage actually do. And yes they were sometimes put in a small special education classroom when I started working as a school psychologist in 1999. And so many of them were so much happier and made much more progress. The schools I have worked at that push the inclusion at all cost model have so many behavior problems and so many miserable students. The best model is that the students are not in a special education classroom all day but they start in their general education classrooms then after around 20 minutes they go to a special education classroom for reading for 90 minutes or for math and reading until lunch. Then they go back to the general education classroom. The students who just need 30 minutes a day or 2-3 times a week get pulled out in the afternoons.

So many special education students benefit from being pulled out to work in small groups of 3-6 with special education teacher and aids in small groups every day for 2-3 hours. They get personalized attention, the teachers can take the time to understand what the students who have difficulty expressing themselves are trying to say so those students finally participate and start talking. The teacher in a small group can immediately pull up a picture on the internet to show students if they don't know what a vocabulary word is, students get work at their level and get praised for finishing it, they see other students at their academic level so they feel encouraged they might be the best in the small group. They can get frequent opportunities to earn stickers/tokens to earn prizes because they are working hard. It is far easier for students who have trouble sitting still and concentrating when you are rotating for 20 minutes from a special education teacher to one aide then after 20 minutes to another. The teacher can see when a kid needs a break or is having a bad day. They can take a break and do a follow a step by step art lesson to feel successful. They can get homework on their level. One teacher even had the students learn a 4 minute play the talent show. There would be zero chance they would get staring roles in their general education classrooms. So for the students who really struggle in school being in a supportive environment they can go into a classroom where they feel valued and supported.

Now compare that to the inclusion model where these 12-16 students are all in different classrooms instead being grouped together and the special education teacher and two aids push into general education classrooms. The special ed teacher in the course of 3 hours might go for 30 minutes into 6 different classrooms. The students have to sit in classrooms where the work is way too hard for many of them and then are embarrassed that an adult is coming to sit next to them because they are so low, where kids snicker if they say something wrong so they do not say much of anything all day, etc. They don't want to go to a back table and have other students hear how they struggle to read. So it isn't all of those 12-16 students perhaps it is 4-6 students who are like "f this" I am going to cause a disruption since I can't do the work anyways or I am going to run out of the classroom or make noises or throw my crayon across the room. So then they get sent to the office or to the counseling office and they get some attention. They soon learn it is so much better to cause a disruption to get out of class. Now you have the special education teacher dealing with those 4-6 students while the other 8-12 students who should be pulled out for hours in the morning and the other 8-10 students who get pulled out in the afternoons get ignored.

What is happening now is ridiculous. Special education is supposed to be individualized. There needs to be a range of options available. It shouldn't be the only options are a special day special education class all day or 100% inclusion. However, so many advocates are pushing inclusion at all cost. There are huge initiatives that push all students need to be included at least 80% of the day and so many advocates who want to see 100% inclusion by all students 100% of the day.

Mcps took away an autism program, trade program and mva. No one cared. So, stop complaining. You all were ok with the autism program closing as no one made a stink. Mcps doesn’t care as there is no accountability.

💯. The only time these parents pretended to care was during Covid and they hijacked caring about special education kids simply because they no longer wanted their own kids in the house

Exactly. They use the kids with SN as talking points as well as low income.

[Anonymous]

Who exactly started the mainstreaming of violent public school kids across the country?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing is going to change. It’s very depressing.

The Departament of Education started this nightmare. Enough is enough.

[Anonymous]

So now that the DOE is eliminated, can the violent kids be moved?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So now that the DOE is eliminated, can the violent kids be moved?

To where? MCPS has very few SN or behavior programs/classrooms and they are all full. The private schools are easily $100K each which is why MCPS fights those placements and there are very few slots.

[Anonymous]

How about the kids who are just behaviorally challenged, be allowed to be disciplined including suspension? Maybe if they could be removed from the classroom, others could learn.

I think this is where virtual instruction could be beneficial. Kids get access to curriculum without being allowed to destroy entire classrooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So now that the DOE is eliminated, can the violent kids be moved?

To where? MCPS has very few SN or behavior programs/classrooms and they are all full. The private schools are easily $100K each which is why MCPS fights those placements and there are very few slots.

You begin with the end in mind:
Protect innocent students and staff from violent kids.

Put up outside tents if you have to.

[Anonymous]

There are several factors at play here. This has been mentioned before but Least Restrictive Environment has been taken too far. As a result it is not only restrictive to the student with the IEP, it’s restrictive to the others in the classroom. The home school model should be expanded to have resource rooms, one for k/1, another for 2/3 and 4/5. Some kids need more intensive support and reource rooms allow the flexibility to meet the needs of each student.

Another factor is exposure to screens at too early of an age. It’s screwing up the wiring in our kids’ brains. I see too many two and three year olds that don’t know how to be bored or entertain themselves and the nonstop screen time is creating little monsters.

We also need to bring back play based kindergarten and preK programs. This doesn’t mean we totally abandon literacy and math skills, but we’re pushing too much at too young of an age. We used to have half day K, and when they went full day had a rest period/nap time. The long day is too much for five and six year olds, and then add the extra time those kids spend at before and aftercare, some five year olds are at school for 10-11 hours. Kindergarten should be about learning social skills (expanding beyond preK), problem solving, learning to identify and manage feelings. We are creating a generation of anxious children that lack coping skills.

Finally testing needs to be streamlined, while an individual student’s assessment may take 15 minutes, many in the primary grades are administered individually resulting in teachers not being able to give instruction the appropriate attention. No child left behind started this craze and it has been detrimental to the learning and well being of our students, the benefits do not outweigh the costs. Teachers should not be taking hours of valuable instructional time each grading period to administer assessments.