s/o can you tell me about your child getting kicked out of Maddux?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one wants kids with emotional problems (and what you really mean is behavioral problems) at their kids' school. That's why it's so hard to find a school for those kids, as previous posters have described.

I think the phrase "unmanaged emotional problems" is a bit...judgmental. I've read many times on here about desperate parents being turned away from hospitals, therapists, schools who don't/can't/won't help them.

That's an understatement. They don't really want to deal with kids in wheelchairs or who can't be toilet trained either but there are laws in place. Eventually behavioral delays will be understood in the same way as speech delays.

I think they're understood, many teachers and schools just don't want to deal with them. And yet they're the ones who most need a school experience catered to their needs.

Sometimes you can find the best fit at a regular/non special preschool that is inclusive and has willing teachers.
I always found the 'special ed hierarchy'/aka 'I don't want YOUR kid with x issues near my kid' that goes on at schools and even Extra activities like sports. Sometimes regular programs (with an aid) are more inclusive.


Remember to look in DC too. Look for play based schools, not little school sitting down at age 3 sweatshops.
I'm not sure I'd try Outdoor Nursery School because it's in a rich area and they don't seem to tolerate differences (our kid was kicked out of there in seconds...).

http://naturalstart.org/bright-ideas/eastern-region-association-forest-and-nature-schools-launches

http://taughtbyfinland.com/finnish-kindergarten-forest/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one wants kids with emotional problems (and what you really mean is behavioral problems) at their kids' school. That's why it's so hard to find a school for those kids, as previous posters have described.

I think the phrase "unmanaged emotional problems" is a bit...judgmental. I've read many times on here about desperate parents being turned away from hospitals, therapists, schools who don't/can't/won't help them.

That's an understatement. They don't really want to deal with kids in wheelchairs or who can't be toilet trained either but there are laws in place. Eventually behavioral delays will be understood in the same way as speech delays.

The toilet training is not just a center issue but often a licensing issue. Past a certain age, especially after 3, its a license issue and they are not approved at that age to deal with it. With that said, it took us lots of time but we were able to find welcoming schools that our child thrived at. But, a child with behavioral or emotional issues is a lot for someone not trained to handle when they have to keep a classroom full of kids safe. OP doesn't appear to have even applied so they need to apply and see what happens. Given the severity, it does not sound like a good fit and they'd be better off at home for a year with ABA/therapist or in public if not one of the other private schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one wants kids with emotional problems (and what you really mean is behavioral problems) at their kids' school. That's why it's so hard to find a school for those kids, as previous posters have described.

I think the phrase "unmanaged emotional problems" is a bit...judgmental. I've read many times on here about desperate parents being turned away from hospitals, therapists, schools who don't/can't/won't help them.

That's an understatement. They don't really want to deal with kids in wheelchairs or who can't be toilet trained either but there are laws in place. Eventually behavioral delays will be understood in the same way as speech delays.

The toilet training is not just a center issue but often a licensing issue. Past a certain age, especially after 3, its a license issue and they are not approved at that age to deal with it. With that said, it took us lots of time but we were able to find welcoming schools that our child thrived at. But, a child with behavioral or emotional issues is a lot for someone not trained to handle when they have to keep a classroom full of kids safe. OP doesn't appear to have even applied so they need to apply and see what happens. Given the severity, it does not sound like a good fit and they'd be better off at home for a year with ABA/therapist or in public if not one of the other private schools.

Actually, they are required to make accommodations for toilet training if it's a disability issue. State licensing does not trump federal law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one wants kids with emotional problems (and what you really mean is behavioral problems) at their kids' school. That's why it's so hard to find a school for those kids, as previous posters have described.

I think the phrase "unmanaged emotional problems" is a bit...judgmental. I've read many times on here about desperate parents being turned away from hospitals, therapists, schools who don't/can't/won't help them.

That's an understatement. They don't really want to deal with kids in wheelchairs or who can't be toilet trained either but there are laws in place. Eventually behavioral delays will be understood in the same way as speech delays.

The toilet training is not just a center issue but often a licensing issue. Past a certain age, especially after 3, its a license issue and they are not approved at that age to deal with it. With that said, it took us lots of time but we were able to find welcoming schools that our child thrived at. But, a child with behavioral or emotional issues is a lot for someone not trained to handle when they have to keep a classroom full of kids safe. OP doesn't appear to have even applied so they need to apply and see what happens. Given the severity, it does not sound like a good fit and they'd be better off at home for a year with ABA/therapist or in public if not one of the other private schools.

We applied, we were accepted. Thanks though. I appreciate your superiority and know it all reply it's really in the spirit of an online support network. My child is not risking anyone's safety. He sometimes has a hard time sitting and not being silly. Calm down and get something else to do other than making other parents of kids with special needs feel more inferior than they already do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one wants kids with emotional problems (and what you really mean is behavioral problems) at their kids' school. That's why it's so hard to find a school for those kids, as previous posters have described.

I think the phrase "unmanaged emotional problems" is a bit...judgmental. I've read many times on here about desperate parents being turned away from hospitals, therapists, schools who don't/can't/won't help them.

That's an understatement. They don't really want to deal with kids in wheelchairs or who can't be toilet trained either but there are laws in place. Eventually behavioral delays will be understood in the same way as speech delays.

The toilet training is not just a center issue but often a licensing issue. Past a certain age, especially after 3, its a license issue and they are not approved at that age to deal with it. With that said, it took us lots of time but we were able to find welcoming schools that our child thrived at. But, a child with behavioral or emotional issues is a lot for someone not trained to handle when they have to keep a classroom full of kids safe. OP doesn't appear to have even applied so they need to apply and see what happens. Given the severity, it does not sound like a good fit and they'd be better off at home for a year with ABA/therapist or in public if not one of the other private schools.

You tell 'em OP! And congrats to your son!
We applied, we were accepted. Thanks though. I appreciate your superiority and know it all reply it's really in the spirit of an online support network. My child is not risking anyone's safety. He sometimes has a hard time sitting and not being silly. Calm down and get something else to do other than making other parents of kids with special needs feel more inferior than they already do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a Maddux parent, but we were left with no choice other than to remove our preK child from a school that had special ed services, but could not handle what our child presented. It's very disruptive and disheartening. I would be very open with Maddux and have a clear discussion on the severity of your child's problem and if they consider it to be a good fit.

You left Maddux because they could not handle your child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am one of the posters who had a kid kicked out of Maddux. I know other families who were as well. My goal, in telling people that his happened, is to dispel the myth that Maddux is a cure-all for everyone, as was its reputation when I first started hanging out on this board. People seemed to think that if your kid got in they would fix him. I know I felt this way. They are well meaning people at Maddux but they are overstretched and they are not able to deal with all behaviors or needs. I just want people to be realistic about expectations. My guess is that 1-2 kids are asked to leave every year (that's totally a guess) so not a lot but it hurts tremendously when it happens because you put so much faith in these people and if they can't help him what does that say about the kid's potential for improvement in general. Some of us were asked not to return for the following year, some were asked to leave mid-year.

Can I ask what specific behavioral issues your child (and/or the other familys' child) where exhibiiting that led to them being asked not to return? We are a potential new Maddux family and this is worrisome to us. We are banking on the fact that we perceive the school to be a small, warm, nurturing environment where our child will get a lot of instructional and social (if needed) support. Children with learning differences, language processing struggles or spectrum based challenges are going to have some behaviors at times until they can learn a better means of expressing themselves or problem solve through a situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am one of the posters who had a kid kicked out of Maddux. I know other families who were as well. My goal, in telling people that his happened, is to dispel the myth that Maddux is a cure-all for everyone, as was its reputation when I first started hanging out on this board. People seemed to think that if your kid got in they would fix him. I know I felt this way. They are well meaning people at Maddux but they are overstretched and they are not able to deal with all behaviors or needs. I just want people to be realistic about expectations. My guess is that 1-2 kids are asked to leave every year (that's totally a guess) so not a lot but it hurts tremendously when it happens because you put so much faith in these people and if they can't help him what does that say about the kid's potential for improvement in general. Some of us were asked not to return for the following year, some were asked to leave mid-year.

Can I ask what specific behavioral issues your child (and/or the other familys' child) where exhibiiting that led to them being asked not to return? We are a potential new Maddux family and this is worrisome to us. We are banking on the fact that we perceive the school to be a small, warm, nurturing environment where our child will get a lot of instructional and social (if needed) support. Children with learning differences, language processing struggles or spectrum based challenges are going to have some behaviors at times until they can learn a better means of expressing themselves or problem solve through a situation.

I mean obviously, but it's a question of degree. We did not get in and my son has probably although we would not go around proclaiming this and it might evolve - a primary behavioral problem. He has other issues like pragmatic speech issues and mild fine motor delay but plenty of kids have hair and can function. My child cannot. He is dominated by his behaviors. That's severe ADHD for you or what have you. They know it when they see it's if they accept your kid they think he's okay.

[Anonymous]

^^ should say plenty of other kids have far more severe delays and can function.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been a Maddux family for 4 years and have only ever heard about one child being asked to leave during that time.

Then you are not plugged in. The rate is one or two a year. And for us there was no warning, behavior plan or anything else. The conversation was along the lines, "It's not working out, find another school for next year."

It's really awful when the special kids are getting kicked out of the special schools in favor of the 'easier' special kids!
Kind of like the ringer on my DC's special olympics soccer team who is going to college next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been a Maddux family for 4 years and have only ever heard about one child being asked to leave during that time.

Then you are not plugged in. The rate is one or two a year. And for us there was no warning, behavior plan or anything else. The conversation was along the lines, "It's not working out, find another school for next year."

It's really awful when the special kids are getting kicked out of the special schools in favor of the 'easier' special kids!
Kind of like the ringer on my DC's special olympics soccer team who is going to college next year.

We have a star on my son's special Olympics soccer team too. I used to find it annoying, but honestly, he may be a great player, but according to his mom, he could not remain on his travel team due to his impulsivity (ADHD) so what else can he do? He deserves to play the game he loves as much as my son does, even if this kid will also go to college and could well be close to playing soccer there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been a Maddux family for 4 years and have only ever heard about one child being asked to leave during that time.

Then you are not plugged in. The rate is one or two a year. And for us there was no warning, behavior plan or anything else. The conversation was along the lines, "It's not working out, find another school for next year."

It's really awful when the special kids are getting kicked out of the special schools in favor of the 'easier' special kids!
Kind of like the ringer on my DC's special olympics soccer team who is going to college next year.

They are not set up for severe SN. My understanding is they are only set up for mild to moderate depending on the need. Its unreasonable to expect all schools to serve all kids. 1-2 kids per year is pretty normal at any private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it is really severe and you live in MoCo, you might want to visit your public school that offers services for emotional disability support. A friend with a severely ADHD child has found it to be very good for her child. And they can't kick her child out. http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/special-education/programs-services/behavior-and-emotional-support.aspx

I have heard other people say this. We are in ACPS and do not have this option. I have been told by my son's current teacher to actively avoid the ED class, as it is self contained.

I don't understand your concern for 2 reasons, first you are considering putting him in a special school that is effectively self contained and secondly, if your child has issues that are severe enough that you are worried he may be expelled from a school specifically catering to children with learning and emotional troubles then you need to consider how he can best learn and grow. A regular classroom teacher with a normal size class might not be good for him. He needs special teachers with special training and being in a group with other kids with the same struggles helps relieve the anxiety from the stigma of being the only kids who can't sit still, keep hands to self, etc.

Don't understand your post. Self contained MC public school classrooms in my school have sometimes as few as 4 kids and 2 teachers. Max is maybe 8 and 2 teachers. Maddux has 12-14 kids in a class and and two teachers.