Reply to Has anyone accepted a spot at a highly coveted DC Charter and then later been disappointed?

Forum Index » DC Public and Public Charter Schools

Reply to "Has anyone accepted a spot at a highly coveted DC Charter and then later been disappointed?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We are at Yu Ying that does not have prek3.   For prek4, 19:3.  For k, 17:3.  Very happy.

[/quote]

That is great, but obviously the exception.  And you are all getting hung up on the issue of ratios and ignoring completely the real basis of my original arguments. I'm the only one concerned about these issues?  I don't think so, based on some of the earlier posts about kids being labeled as "problems" or "G&T" that I was responding to. This stuff goes on all the time - just go peruse the SN board to see all the parents whose preschoolers have IEPs.  Preschoolers develop at wildly different rates, and I don't think the system is set up to allow for that.[/quote]

If you stay around on the SN board, you'll find most people even in DC are pretty happy with Childfind and early intervention services.  So much so that it all seems downhill from there once they have to rely on schools as the LEA.  Preschoolers who have IEPs need them and free services and supports which an IEP provides are not given out willy-nilly or on a whim.  IEPs are hard to get, costs the school system money and certainly the fact that "preschoolers develope at wildly different rates" are taken into account before an IEP is offered.[/quote]

Well, in our case, I think the situation has been greatly overblown and that the school has been too inflexible in the classroom I.e. insisting on participation in every activity, free play that isn't free (the kids are assigned to centers in groups), etc.  I used to work in a school and even at kindergarten, many kids have trouble staying on task, have off days where they don't want to participate and the like.  I am of the opinion that none of this warrants "intervention.". It warrants teachers who can work with each child instead of enforcing rules, regulations, schedules, etc.  [/quote]

So the school suggested "interventions" but you think the issues are overblown.  Well, good luck!  Hopefully, a smaller class size with more flexible teachers and maturity/time will resolves all your kid's issues.

However, if your next school suggests "interventions", it's probably a good idea to take their advice rather than just changing to another school.[/quote]

We did take their advice, so you can quit being a bitch now.  I am my child's mother, I know him best, we've gotten all kinds of conflicting information, and my instincts tell me something is off. My child is largely no different from other children I know in different settings who are thriving with more attention and a chance to develop at their own pace, instead of according to some institutional guidelines that insist all kids fit the mold.  [b]If you want to be a sheep who goes through life entrusting your child's well being entirely to the opinions of others, knock yourself out.  I'm not a sheep, and I will continue to think for myself, challenge things in that trouble me[/b], and fight for what's best for my kid.  You do it your way, I'll do it mine.  I'm so sick of these debates with people like you.[/quote]

I follow the advice of my kid's developemental pediatrician, educational consultant as well as the advice of other experts, Children's, etc who evaluated DC and work with DC everyday like her teachers.  If that makes me a "sheep" so be it.  Even though I'm the Mom, I realize I'm no expert in child development and know when I should seek help and advocate for my child.  My child is in a classroom of 17:3 for kindergarten - all teachers including a bilingual sp ed teacher and gets services, supports and accommodations at school that lets her thrive.   DC loves school and looks forward to going every day.  No minuses at all and it's working for my child so I'm happy.  Doesn't sound like it's working for you at all...[/quote]

Well, no it isn't working for me at all - considering that we've called every developmental pediatrician within a 25 mile radius of DC and we are still waiting for an appointment 9 months later.  I'm no childhood development expert either, but in the absence of actual expert opinions I'm not comfortable with the assessments and feedback we're being given.  And I'm not going to spend hundreds or perhaps thousands on an educational consultant either until I am able to get an expert medical opinion.  The divide between your experience and mine, once again, demonstrates that the system is not working for LOTS of kids.  It's great to hear the success stories, but it doesn't change the fact that system continues to fail many, many kids.  Nor does it allay my suspicion that many kids are being labeled with dubious syndromes at ever earlier ages because it is easier and more convenient than designing and funding programs that truly serve the needs of very young children.  I don't buy the argument that "IEP's are expensive to design and the school doesn't want to implement them, blah blah blah."  I've met several moms who, like me, feel that they and their children were rushed into this process on the basis of questionable assessments.  We are all questioning where the line is between normal developmental differences and "special needs."  Anyone who claims to know what this line is with absolute certainty is lying, so we are back to every parent has to do what is right.  You are certainly not justified to judge my experience or my decisions based upon your experience, because your experience is not universal.  [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics