Anonymous wrote:I'm glad this is getting a little bit of attention (but still not enough).

My kids are young adults and teens now, but when they were in different MCPS elementary schools, they each had to deal with a physically dangerous child.

This issue is not new. It's the weakness of public schools, who have a mandate to accept all resident children in their catchment area.

What needs to change is how rapidly school staff can ask for a different placement. For this to happen, the system needs MORE SEATS in special programs. There aren't enough!

Anonymous wrote:I worked in a school with a SESES program and was the grade-level mainstream class for students in the program. My students from the program were easier than my gen. ed students. People dismiss trauma as being a factor in all of this but the amount of #*@ our kids have seen by second grade is mind-blowing. They have zero coping skills and their models for appropriate behaviors might very well be the caregiver at home who has been inflicting the trauma.

I don't know what the solution is but the current reality of schools is unsustainable. All of society's challenges end up in our schools and we're expected to hold high standards for all students but we're dealing with some extremely disruptive behaviors. Our core team at my school is amazing and will always respond to calls for support but then they're tied up with one student while three more pop off in other parts of the building. We need to do better as a society because whatever we're doing isn't working. More and more of our kids are really struggling.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SESES program is a discrete program for students with emotional disabilities. If this child is having as many problems even with the support of the program, it’s likely that the program staff are looking at moving the child to a more restrictive environment. If that’s taking a long time, it’s outside of the school staffs control. That’s federal law plus central office MCPS being difficult to work with and refusing to move students.

This system needs to change. We asked for an IEP, begged for help (child is not acting up, good kid but clearly needs help) and the VP without meeting the child or knowing who they are said no they are fine and refused even an evaluation. It was so bizarre. So, more than likely admin is just ignoring this as they are too lazy to put in the work, or do their job.

Did you make the request in writing? They have to evaluate, if you make the request in writing.

Anonymous wrote:A big issue is that many parents no longer enforce any rules or accept that their child is out of control. The article describes one parent who is upset because her child had cause a big enough disturbance behavioral outburst that an entire kindergarten class had to be evacuated. Is she bothered that 20 other students couldn't learn and many were scared or that a teacher's classroom that they spent hours arranging with many items they personally purchased is in disarray? No, the parent is upset because they were initially told they couldn't leave until it was picked up. So obviously, the parent and child did not pick up the room. The teacher had to stay late to pick up everything that got thrown and overturned and trashed.

The article says the student had impulse control issues and trouble keeping his hands to himself. Then they seem surprised “We would go to pick him up at the end of the day and someone would walk him out holding him at arm’s length, like he was a wild animal,” one of the parents said. “I am shocked and appalled at how our son was treated by the system.” But the parent is NOT shocked or appalled at how their child's behavior is affecting the teacher and other students. What does the parent think the school can do? No one wants to be kicked or hit.

In past years kids that hit others, ran away from classrooms, and threw things like staplers, books, etc. were restrained. They were absolutely not allowed to run amok. Instead of an entire classroom having to evacuate a room, the student was removed by staff members and put in a place where there were no other children. This no longer happens.

In past years students with special needs who needed to be in a classroom of 8-12 children to progress academically or because they had language delays or sensory issues or ADHD, etc. were placed in a special education classroom the majority of the school day. They could tailor the classroom for students who needed extra movement, who needed more breaks, who needed more prizes because they have to work harder to learn to read, etc. Students got work on their level, they could work and get immediate feedback from the teacher and aide because the ratios were much lower. These students had mild to moderate needs that were effectively addressed so there were not as many behavior problems. Now the push for inclusion at all costs is making so many kids absolutely miserable. Districts have removed these types of classrooms. If they existed many students would not need a classroom for social emotional learning because they would not end up so angry because would be in an appropriate classroom.

Not all kids can learn with 20 to 25 or more students. Not every student is ready in K to learn to read. Too many students are expected even in K to sit too long, to focus too much on structured academics instead of having engaging in active play where they learn to get along with others, learn to listen, take turns, use their imagination, etc.

Anonymous wrote:A big issue is that many parents no longer enforce any rules or accept that their child is out of control. The article describes one parent who is upset because her child had cause a big enough disturbance behavioral outburst that an entire kindergarten class had to be evacuated. Is she bothered that 20 other students couldn't learn and many were scared or that a teacher's classroom that they spent hours arranging with many items they personally purchased is in disarray? No, the parent is upset because they were initially told they couldn't leave until it was picked up. So obviously, the parent and child did not pick up the room. The teacher had to stay late to pick up everything that got thrown and overturned and trashed.

The article says the student had impulse control issues and trouble keeping his hands to himself. Then they seem surprised “We would go to pick him up at the end of the day and someone would walk him out holding him at arm’s length, like he was a wild animal,” one of the parents said. “I am shocked and appalled at how our son was treated by the system.” But the parent is NOT shocked or appalled at how their child's behavior is affecting the teacher and other students. What does the parent think the school can do? No one wants to be kicked or hit.

In past years kids that hit others, ran away from classrooms, and threw things like staplers, books, etc. were restrained. They were absolutely not allowed to run amok. Instead of an entire classroom having to evacuate a room, the student was removed by staff members and put in a place where there were no other children. This no longer happens.

In past years students with special needs who needed to be in a classroom of 8-12 children to progress academically or because they had language delays or sensory issues or ADHD, etc. were placed in a special education classroom the majority of the school day. They could tailor the classroom for students who needed extra movement, who needed more breaks, who needed more prizes because they have to work harder to learn to read, etc. Students got work on their level, they could work and get immediate feedback from the teacher and aide because the ratios were much lower. These students had mild to moderate needs that were effectively addressed so there were not as many behavior problems. Now the push for inclusion at all costs is making so many kids absolutely miserable. Districts have removed these types of classrooms. If they existed many students would not need a classroom for social emotional learning because they would not end up so angry because would be in an appropriate classroom.

Not all kids can learn with 20 to 25 or more students. Not every student is ready in K to learn to read. Too many students are expected even in K to sit too long, to focus too much on structured academics instead of having engaging in active play where they learn to get along with others, learn to listen, take turns, use their imagination,

Anonymous wrote:A big issue is that many parents no longer enforce any rules or accept that their child is out of control. The article describes one parent who is upset because her child had cause a big enough disturbance behavioral outburst that an entire kindergarten class had to be evacuated. Is she bothered that 20 other students couldn't learn and many were scared or that a teacher's classroom that they spent hours arranging with many items they personally purchased is in disarray? No, the parent is upset because they were initially told they couldn't leave until it was picked up. So obviously, the parent and child did not pick up the room. The teacher had to stay late to pick up everything that got thrown and overturned and trashed.

The article says the student had impulse control issues and trouble keeping his hands to himself. Then they seem surprised “We would go to pick him up at the end of the day and someone would walk him out holding him at arm’s length, like he was a wild animal,” one of the parents said. “I am shocked and appalled at how our son was treated by the system.” But the parent is NOT shocked or appalled at how their child's behavior is affecting the teacher and other students. What does the parent think the school can do? No one wants to be kicked or hit.

In past years kids that hit others, ran away from classrooms, and threw things like staplers, books, etc. were restrained. They were absolutely not allowed to run amok. Instead of an entire classroom having to evacuate a room, the student was removed by staff members and put in a place where there were no other children. This no longer happens.

In past years students with special needs who needed to be in a classroom of 8-12 children to progress academically or because they had language delays or sensory issues or ADHD, etc. were placed in a special education classroom the majority of the school day. They could tailor the classroom for students who needed extra movement, who needed more breaks, who needed more prizes because they have to work harder to learn to read, etc. Students got work on their level, they could work and get immediate feedback from the teacher and aide because the ratios were much lower. These students had mild to moderate needs that were effectively addressed so there were not as many behavior problems. Now the push for inclusion at all costs is making so many kids absolutely miserable. Districts have removed these types of classrooms. If they existed many students would not need a classroom for social emotional learning because they would not end up so angry because would be in an appropriate classroom.

Not all kids can learn with 20 to 25 or more students. Not every student is ready in K to learn to read. Too many students are expected even in K to sit too long, to focus too much on structured academics instead of having engaging in active play where they learn to get along with others, learn to listen, take turns, use their imagination, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SESES program is a discrete program for students with emotional disabilities. If this child is having as many problems even with the support of the program, it’s likely that the program staff are looking at moving the child to a more restrictive environment. If that’s taking a long time, it’s outside of the school staffs control. That’s federal law plus central office MCPS being difficult to work with and refusing to move students.

This system needs to change. We asked for an IEP, begged for help (child is not acting up, good kid but clearly needs help) and the VP without meeting the child or knowing who they are said no they are fine and refused even an evaluation. It was so bizarre. So, more than likely admin is just ignoring this as they are too lazy to put in the work, or do their job.