down's child at preschool...concerned

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: And perhaps as an "educator" you could encourage her to educate herself on down syndrome instead of cursing about people being "PC."

And isn't this what the OP is trying to do -- educate herself? Quick input from a message board from parents either of kids with SN or parents who have kids in classes with SN kids before deciding if she has the time/ability to do in-depth research on her own on the subject.

Here's a wacky idea - how about she contact the school instead of an anonymous message board? Or even the SN forum of an anonymous message board?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Actually, many people do indeed come from a place of hate and discrimination but like to hide behind "concern" or taking a stand that they refuse to be "PC." On this board and everywhere else. I hope that's not what OP is about but we really have no way of knowing. She certainly seems best case just totally clueless. And perhaps as an "educator" you could encourage her to educate herself on down syndrome instead of cursing about people being "PC." And while you're at it perhaps reevaluate your grammar. Because wow.

You seem like a good person to be judging grammar. Fragmented sentences andstarting sentences with conjunctions are all no-nos that most 3rd graders have mastered.

If you're the "educator" I am not sure you should be commenting on this at all.

[Anonymous]

I would take a DS child ANY day over some of the agressive/disruptive "normal" kids any day of the week. My DS had a horrible time in one of his camps this summer because there was a kid so agressive and out of control. He was supposedly ADHD and completely off the wall. it is kids like that who should be put in a special class as to not traumatize everyone else. Lucky the camp was only a week, but who knows what elementary school will bring.

My limited experience with DS kids is that they are really sweet and very mellow. If I could pick a disability out of a hat and had to live iwth it, I think DS would be the one I would choose.

[Anonymous]

OP: if you're for real, you're a jackass. G-d forbid your child ever become disabled/impaired.

[Anonymous]

The DS kids I've known have been wonderful-- mellow and oh so loving. Sometimes a little stubborn, but in general, I'd rather work with DS than some "spirited" kids without "special needs". Now I know that might be hard for the parents of a DS child to read. I understand the sadness of questioning whether your child will be able to fully participate throughout his life, to be self-sufficient, to hit the major milestones, like graduations and marriage and children. But from the perspective of someone who might only spend a few hours with the child, well, the ones I've known have been very good at happiness-- both experiencing it and giving it.

[Anonymous]

I feel sorry for OP and their child/children. To be so closed minded and raised by such a total and complete tool.

Have you met some of the "normal" kids these days -- many are wonderful, but you also have rude, entitled, brats who take lots of time from teachers. Try to focus on the values you are passing down to your child rather than singeling out this child.

I am so sad people think like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It's not my job to educate the OP on special needs children. If the OP is that ignorant (and again, I don't believe this is real) then she probably was the same type of parent in the 60's who would have posted (had the internet existed) "I have an African American child in my school, what do I do" - until my child is unable to mainstream in school, he has the right to attend along side his peers. I've had parents in my school ask me questions, and I'm happy to answer them - that I appreciate.

Of course it is your job to educate people about special needs, if you have a special needs child. While I agree that OP's initial reaction may seem negative, you can't just assume that she, and other people, are not open to learning. Perhaps if people took the time to explain Down's Syndrome (or any other disability), then it would help others who have never been in close contact with a child with Down's. Unless you know that someone is just a mean, bad person, I don't think being "ignorant" precludes anyone from learning and becoming more accepting and inclusive, whether that person is an adult or a child.

As an AA, is it my job to educate racist people? I don't think so. Is it a Jewish person's job to educate anti-semetic people? Then why do parents of special needs people have to be "the educators" - personally, I'm just trying to do the best by my child. As everyone else is.

I think you'll be surprised at the responses to your first question - kind of like how it falls upon Muslims to prove to people that Islam doesn't equal terrorism. One unfortunate part of being a minority is the expectation that you'll be an ambassador for your people - I'm in the same boat

[Anonymous]

My niece has Down Syndrome and is doing very well in school--she's in "regular" classes without any special aides, as far as I know. And all the kids seem to like her. It saddens me to know that some of her classmates' parents probably think the same way OP does. I just hope the kids are kinder and more understanding than the parents.

Grammar police here, for the record: There's nothing wrong with beginning a sentence with a conjunction. That's a myth. No one in the publishing industry thinks there's anything wrong with it.

[Anonymous]

OP, you came here because it's anonymous which leads me to think you're already a bit ashamed of the question.

You should be.

Since the age of 4 months my DD has been friends with a little boy with downs syndrome. It's taught her now at the age of 3 that we're all a little different and we all do things at our pace. She sees nothing wrong with special needs. And neither do I.

To be very blunt and honest, stop worrying about your kid knowing how to read by age 3 from a co-op and teach your child compassion.

[Anonymous]

I would much rather my kid be in a preschool, or K,1, 2 class, with a single child who has Down's than with all these disruptive ADHD, ASD and intensely disruptive SPD kids. It seems like 1/3 of this class cannot sit still and shouts out constantly -- and this is all A-OK.


Consider yourself lucky that your child doesn't have any of these issues, PP. Where did you get the idea that this is all "A-OK"? Spend a few moments on the special needs board and you will see that it's anything but A-OK for the parents who are heartsick with worry and doing everything in their power to help their children succeed in the school environment despite major challenges.

I'm the PP you quoted. I actually agree that almost all of the parents of most disruptive SPD, ASD, ADHD, PPD-NOD kids love their children and experience heartache sometimes over their kids. I'm sure they do 'everything in their power' to help their kids.

I don't actually care about that, not much anyway. What -I- care about the very most is the experience of MY CHILD in the classroom. How is HIS day-to-day experience?

Any mom who claims that she doesn't care the most about her own kid's classroom experience vs. some other kid's classroom experience is lying.

So when MY kid's classroom experience is substantially diminished because of constant disruption from too many documented, IEP'd, 504'd kids, my compassion wears thin. When MY kid comes home after being hit and kicked by a kid with "intense SPD," I care more about my kid's retina than the heartache of the other kid's mom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would take a DS child ANY day over some of the agressive/disruptive "normal" kids any day of the week. My DS had a horrible time in one of his camps this summer because there was a kid so agressive and out of control. He was supposedly ADHD and completely off the wall. it is kids like that who should be put in a special class as to not traumatize everyone else. Lucky the camp was only a week, but who knows what elementary school will bring.

My limited experience with DS kids is that they are really sweet and very mellow. If I could pick a disability out of a hat and had to live iwth it, I think DS would be the one I would choose.

You know, this is SOO true. Nobody (well, at least I don't know anybody) who wishes for a disable child....but any one of us could have one. In fact, many of probably do have one and don't know it yet or tragically, will have an ill or disabled child in the future.

Yet, because Down's syndrome is one of the very few disabilities that can be detected prenatally, most (I think more than 90%) of parents who find out their baby has Down's will abort. Yet, of course that doesn't mean their next child won't be disabled or have ADHD or SPD or Autism. It just means their child won't have Down's or one of the other "detectable" disorders. What will happen when we can detect EVERYTHING? Its kind of scary how "perfect" most of us expect children (people) to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:how would you feel if there was a down's syndrome child in your kid's class? this is a normal preschool, not an "inclusive" school...don't know if the teachers are trained for this. I'm worried that my child won't get the attention he needs b/c the other child will take time away from the teacher, among other concerns. anyone have experience with this? they didn't tell us this when we enrolled. we are just finding out now. also, its a coop so i don't know if i am comfortable working with this child. i think they should have told us before.

Um. Wow. I'm not sure if I should dignify this with a response.

What are you afraid of? It's not catching. The school should be providing accommodations for the child, so it will not take time away from your child. Have you ever even met a child or adult with Down's Syndrome? If not, perhaps it's time to.

[Anonymous]

Oh, and if my kid had a gentle child with DS in his class, plus a blind child and a child with no legs and a mute child and a couple of LD kids, that would be lovely. All SNs are not identical in their impact on the other kids.

The problem is the kicking, shouting, bouncing, shoving kids when they reach a ratio of 6:24. See because then, nobody's learning squat. I find that not A-OK

[Anonymous]

]

So when MY kid's classroom experience is substantially diminished because of constant disruption from too many documented, IEP'd, 504'd kids, my compassion wears thin. When MY kid comes home after being hit and kicked by a kid with "intense SPD," I care more about my kid's retina than the heartache of the other kid's mom.

What would you like us to do with our documented, IEP'd 504'd kids????????????? Please, tell me our options. Because trust me - it ain't easy for our kids or for us either. Stand in my shoes for a week and see where you'd rather be. The options for our "documented" kids are not many. Keep that in mind. I'd rather not have to deal with parents like you - trust me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh, and if my kid had a gentle child with DS in his class, plus a blind child and a child with no legs and a mute child and a couple of LD kids, that would be lovely. All SNs are not identical in their impact on the other kids.

The problem is the kicking, shouting, bouncing, shoving kids when they reach a ratio of 6:24. See because then, nobody's learning squat. I find that not A-OK

So your issues is not the special needs children in the class, but the school ratio itself. Or the teachers not watching the kicking and shouting (which descibes most younger kids in school). So why don't you pay for private where you can choose to keep the rest of us out. Or maybe there is a special place where you can send all the kids you don't find appropriate to hang with your child.