Let’s all be honest: the teachers were laughing at the kid and the dad. The kid sounds like a piece of work and the dad talking him down from an anxiety attack was probably hilarious to them. OP was it an actual teacher or a para?

Will your child attend this school in the fall? consider first emailing the teachers involved and/or cc principal. Why go over everyone at the school? That won’t look good for you or help solve anything.

I think it’s odd that you say they were laughing at this out of the blue. Were they watching videos on their phone? Clearly you haven’t ever watched America’s funniest home videos where the videos are about laughing at people falling and getting hurt while doing dumb things.

Anonymous wrote:https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/special-education/contact-us/

I’m so sorry that your child has had a miserable experience this summer. Here are a bunch of names and phone numbers for MCPS special Ed, including the supervisor Dr Sandie Ives. I would send a letter documenting your experience addressed to her, and also try to find the generic emails for MCPS and call these numbers as well. I hope that McPS addresses any unprofessional actions for the sake of all kids.

This. I would also send the letter to leadership at the school: the Principal, special Ed team leader, summer school program head, etc.

When my son's medications were being adjusted, the doctor suggested a stretch of at least a few days at homes so I could keep my eye on his reaction to them. The last place I would send him is to school.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/directory/directory_Boxoffice.aspx?processlevel=20611

And here are the links to emails and other contact info for the MCPS superintendent and others who might be in a position to help…

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/special-education/contact-us/

I’m so sorry that your child has had a miserable experience this summer. Here are a bunch of names and phone numbers for MCPS special Ed, including the supervisor Dr Sandie Ives. I would send a letter documenting your experience addressed to her, and also try to find the generic emails for MCPS and call these numbers as well. I hope that McPS addresses any unprofessional actions for the sake of all kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You make no sense. The teachers don’t sound inappropriate. Is no one ever suppose to laugh around your kid?

DS was having an anxiety attack. DH was called to calm him down and was in the process of doing so. Why would the teachers be in the room laughing and giggling while DH is trying to calm DS and then make up a totally inappropriate reason as to why they are giggling. Are you saying that it is okay to tell an 8 year old that another child get stung by hornets is funny?

Do none of you speak native English? “Kicked the hornet’s nest” is just a phrase for doing something that blows back a negative outcome onto you. No kid was really stung by a hornet.

What are you going to report - inappropriate use of metaphors!

Anonymous wrote:You make no sense. The teachers don’t sound inappropriate. Is no one ever suppose to laugh around your kid?

This. The teachers were talking amongst themselves, found something funny, and laughed. Your kid took their comment extremely literally, which is understandable for him, but you as an adult must know that that is just a turn of phrase and that no kid was actually hurt. The teachers were not going to disclose the actual details of their conversation about another student to your child, which would have been unprofessional, so they used a colloquialism. You need to explain this colloquialism to your child instead of blame the teachers.

And, you also should have known that summer school was not a good fit for your child. Don’t set him up to fail just because something is free.

What an awful experience for your child!

Please do not tweet or email or post on social media. Write an actual letter and mail it to the superintendent and the head of the board of education. Maybe nothing will happen or change -- but maybe those teachers will be reprimanded and adjust their behavior....and the next child with special needs will have a better experience. Not doing anything sends the message that their behavior - which you experienced in person -- is OK.

Emails and social media posts can be easily ignored. A letter received by the office can not.

I think you are focused on the wrong thing in this situation. You are focused on the teachers giggling but let’s be honest, taking it higher up the chain will do what? What is the outcome that you seek? I think that your focus needs to be on your child. Summer school is not like regular school. You are not going to get all of the support that a child needs during summer school. Keep in mind, summer school is optional. Teachers are NOT equipped to handle children that threaten suicide and are taking actions to do so. Teachers are trained to teach. Teachers get a 20 minute video on suicide prevention at the beginning of the year, that is all… I understand that you had good intentions on sending your son to summer school but a child that you described, should not be in school all year around. That is a lot for a child. I am sure that you are getting him all the help he needs but as a fellow teacher myself and a parent of a child with special needs, direct your entertainment elsewhere than on a giggle.

Anonymous wrote:If your DH was there when this took place why didn’t he say something at the time?

DH said that he was focused on DS and found the teachers' response inappropriate but did not want to take his attention away from DS.

If your DH was there when this took place why didn’t he say something at the time?

Anonymous wrote:Your kid needs more support than summer school can offer if he's repeatedly threatening to kill himself. This is not typical behavior.

We are seeing his psychiatrist and therapist. This is not the point of this post. We are getting him treatment.

Just wanted to say I am so sorry your son had such a bad experience, OP. That sounds awful. I would take it up the chain until you find someone to provide some accountability. That may just be listening to you and saying “thank you for letting us know,” but I think it’s worth doing regardless.

If you are pulling your kid I would also send an email to the teachers directly explaining that what they did hurt your child and how. Keep it short, to the point, and assume they were not acting maliciously (even if you think they are evil incarnate). It may help them act differently next time.