Reply to Elementary School Misbehavior and Violence

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm surprised kids don't ever gang up on the troublemakers at recess and sort it out themselves.[/quote]

Because kids nowadays are generally kind and know the student probably has a neurodevelopmental disorder that they can’t control.[/quote]

It’s terrific that kids are growing up kind. But most people in prison probably also have neurodevelopmental disorders they can’t control. Regardless of who is causing physical harm and why, we have to be able to prevent it in our schools.[/quote]

In this case, that is partly why the para is there, yet they can’t stop all behaviors.[/quote]

A paraprofessional educator in FCPS has to meet the following requirements

[list]1. Be 18 years old, 21 is preferred but not required
2. Have a high school degree or a GED
3. Have 2 years work experience working with kids or 2 years of coursework in a related field
4. Complete training within 60 days of being hired focusing on individualized instruction and behavior management. [/list]

They are not specialists or specifically trained individuals who can help students. For the most part, they are there to try and help divert the child and that is about it. [/quote]

And, how is this "training" going to prevent these outbursts?  Prevent other kids being hurt?[/quote]

That is the point, they are not trained to prevent the outbursts. They have no special qualifications. They are a body that is there in a lower paying job. They might be someone looking for work while their kid is in school or just trying to make ends meet but they are not specially trained individuals who know how to help the child.

I had a friend who took a Para job when her kids went back to school. She was there to run after the kid when he eloped and to remind him to stay on the school grounds. That was it. People think that the Paras are something that they are not. We don’t pay SPED teachers enough to keep them in the building. We don’t support them enough to let them do their jobs. We don’t pay the Paras enough or require specialized training.

The entire SPED program is overwhelmed because of the demands placed on it, underfunded because the demands keep growing and the numbers keep growing, and complained about because the problems keep multiplying. The 80% mainstream probably has less to do with helping the kids and more to do with not having the space or teachers to run SPED properly. Public schools have to serve every child and the vast majority of SPED kids are in the public school system.

Now toss in kids whose parents are not parenting so kids are out of control and schools that won’t discipline because they are afraid of lawsuits and we have a giant cluster on our hands. [/quote]

+100
Well said.  When my kids were in elementary, each of them had several very disruptive SPED kids mainstreamed into their classes.  The distractions and outbursts were constant.  I finally asked admin about this and they said they expected the other kids to have empathy and understanding.  Well, sure - but what happens when "the other kids" aren't learning a thing due to the chaotic environment?  I guess that's ok - as long as they're "empathetic and understanding".  [/quote]

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