Reply to Innovative Ideas to reduce educational disparity

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm sure I'll get majorly flamed for this, but the kids with severe behavior problems are the primary issue in the high FARMS school where I teach. I understand the least restrictive environment, but the rights of one student to learn shouldn't trump the rights of the other 20 something students in the classroom. Not to mention the abuse the staff have to endure on a daily basis. We're only told to "try more strategies" by admin and the "experts", and the parents tell us it's our problem to deal with during school hours.

These kids pretty much rob the other kids of their opportunities to learn. I don't blame them for being unable to tune out a kid laying on his back and kicking a metal desk during the whole group lesson, or be able to concentrate in class near a student who threatened to beat you up yesterday. [/quote]
I'm sorry you have to deal with that, as do the other students who are trying to learn. That really sucks. I really think those kids should be given a chance, but there should be a limit. At some point, like 16 or something, they should be put in alternative school after being given many chances.  I don't think society should give up on them, but I agree, the others shouldn't have to deal with it for the whole school year.[/quote]

I’m the PP you responded to. I teach elementary school and situations like I wrote above happen almost daily. If not daily, then a few times per week.  Some kids have to be in the same classroom with these kids for more than a year because there are only so many combinations and permutations. It absolutely impacts their learning. If my kid was put in a class with a kid like this, I would demand that either my child be moved or the other kid be moved. When the rest of the kids have to leave the classroom and go into another one so they aren’t in danger when the kid starts having an episode where they are tearing up the classroom and throwing things, that’s when the line is drawn. I’m always expecting the phone calls and emails to pour in after such an episode but they don’t. I wish they did so admin and MCPS would be pressured to actually do something about it rather than just leave it up to the classroom teacher to handle. [/quote]
As a parent, that would upset me.  If it happens a couple of times per year, I would let it go, but everyday?  That is not fair to the rest of the kids.  Are the other parents not aware or are they just afraid to be *that* parent that singles out a disruptive child who may/may not have SN?

I don't think it serves anyone, least of all that child, for admin to ignore the issues.  How is not addressing that child's issue going to help that child learn and be a productive member of society?

Terrible strategy.  I feel badly for you PP, but thankful that we do have dedicated teachers out there who have to deal with this crap day in and day out, and probably have to deal with crazy parents to boot.[/quote]

We're at a Focus school and crap like this happens every year.  In every classroom.  Truly.  I volunteer on and off, and my kids are older so we hear about it in details.

Even good teachers are in such a tough position because the kids learn early that they can get away with pretty terrible behavior.  Our Focus school follows the PBIS system.  So, they really don't want to implement any 'punitive' type measures.  And, they want to keep the kids in the classroom.  No suspensions.  Really, no punishment, except that maybe the kid doesn't get a sticker at the end of the day.

This year in 1st grade, we already had a kid who hit the teacher.  Lots of kids who sprawl out on the floor and kick around, not paying attention.  We've had so many issues on the playground, during recess - kids pushing other kids off, kids getting in fights.  Admin can't or doesn't do much.  It's a pretty terrible learning environment, IMO.  [/quote]

Administrator's hands are tied.  I used to work in a Focus school and it was a disaster.  I don't think parents realize how extreme the behaviors are in schools nowadays.  I'm in my 30's and I know we all had that one classmate who was the clown in school.  Now, the class clown is actually the class terrorist who is verbally abusive, cannot manage his/her emotions and will react violently to his/her peers and teacher.  I know our administrators would try to get a kid suspended but the their community superintendent wouldn't allow it.  After all, too many suspensions looks bad as a school system according to the state.  Again, they have NO idea what kind of freak show is going on in classrooms across the county. The latest news is that students in grades K - 2 can no longer be suspended unless they have done something criminal.  Awesome![/quote]

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