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[quote=Anonymous]I am a special ed teacher and have been so for a long time. I have worked with many wonderful kids and families. I do not understand, however, why so many students come to school dressed in clothes that do not fit or are in styles much too young for them. This does not help with the social isolation that their behaviors may cause. These are not families that don't have money to afford clothing. I see kids in pants that are way too short, or shirts with holes in them, or with stains all over them. I see older kids in sweatpants and older kids in Tshirts with kiddie cartoons on them. I know that some kids don't like the feeling of tight waistbands, but there are alternatives, and at least they can wear track pants, and not gray sweatpants. I am not including the severely disabled kids  - I am talking about kids in general ed pull out programs or in classes that teach the gen ed curriculum who are with gen ed peers much of the time.

I know that kids have favorite clothes, and I know that many kids have sensory needs, and that parents can only fight so many battles at home.

I just feel that it would really benefit the kids if clothes that don't fit are removed from the house, and clothes that are stained or full of holes are discarded, even if it has to be when the child is not home.

The same goes with haircuts and bathing. If the kids can look a little more age-appropriate, they will be in for so much less teasing. I don't allow any teasing, and our school is really good about not putting up with it, but it would really help the kids if they weren't dressed so oddly.

I once had a student with HFA, and his mom drew him a Venn diagram and labeled one side with "Clothes that Tyler likes," and the other with "Clothes that other ten year olds like" and then showed him how they needed to find clothes in the overlapping part so that he would have more success socially in his mainstreaming classes.

As I read back over this, I am afraid it comes out as being unkind or as though I don't understand the struggles that parents of our kids face, and that is not true. I am so in awe of the parenting issues you face and how courageously you advocate for your students. I just want to offer a point of view from the school side, as I want them all to succeed as much as possible. [/quote]

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