Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are we supposed to trust FCPS to teach children when they can’t do the basic minimum of keeping everyone safe?

Should we tie up the child with special needs? Restrict them to a 6x6 room? Not allow them to have recess?

So what is your solution? The child is attacking kids and teachers at recess. The child has an aide with them, so there is a known issue. Why can’t there be a consequence for the child's actions, like solo recess indoors. The idea that the child is allowed to continue to hurt other kids because they have an IEP is what angers people. Why is it ok for other kids to be hurt because another child has an issue?

Increase teacher to student ratios for kids who need this type of support. We’ll also need to increase salaries to entice the additional staff to take these specific jobs.

Or you can stop mainstreaming kids who are violent.

My kids have been in classrooms where, due to special programs, there were 4 or 5 adults in the room at all times, and at least 2 of those were paras. The kids all know which adults are assigned to which kids.

And to a PP's point, my kids were in AAP classes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are we supposed to trust FCPS to teach children when they can’t do the basic minimum of keeping everyone safe?

Should we tie up the child with special needs? Restrict them to a 6x6 room? Not allow them to have recess?

So what is your solution? The child is attacking kids and teachers at recess. The child has an aide with them, so there is a known issue. Why can’t there be a consequence for the child's actions, like solo recess indoors. The idea that the child is allowed to continue to hurt other kids because they have an IEP is what angers people. Why is it ok for other kids to be hurt because another child has an issue?

Increase teacher to student ratios for kids who need this type of support. We’ll also need to increase salaries to entice the additional staff to take these specific jobs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised kids don't ever gang up on the troublemakers at recess and sort it out themselves.

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

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are we supposed to trust FCPS to teach children when they can’t do the basic minimum of keeping everyone safe?

Should we tie up the child with special needs? Restrict them to a 6x6 room? Not allow them to have recess?

So what is your solution? The child is attacking kids and teachers at recess. The child has an aide with them, so there is a known issue. Why can’t there be a consequence for the child's actions, like solo recess indoors. The idea that the child is allowed to continue to hurt other kids because they have an IEP is what angers people. Why is it ok for other kids to be hurt because another child has an issue?

Increase teacher to student ratios for kids who need this type of support. We’ll also need to increase salaries to entice the additional staff to take these specific jobs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised kids don't ever gang up on the troublemakers at recess and sort it out themselves.

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

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.

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

A paraprofessional educator in FCPS has to meet the following requirements

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.

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised kids don't ever gang up on the troublemakers at recess and sort it out themselves.

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

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.

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

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Typical FCPS. Cater to the abnormal at the expense of the normal. The inmates are running the asylum.

I hate it but have to admit you are 100% correct.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are we supposed to trust FCPS to teach children when they can’t do the basic minimum of keeping everyone safe?

Should we tie up the child with special needs? Restrict them to a 6x6 room? Not allow them to have recess?

So what is your solution? The child is attacking kids and teachers at recess. The child has an aide with them, so there is a known issue. Why can’t there be a consequence for the child's actions, like solo recess indoors. The idea that the child is allowed to continue to hurt other kids because they have an IEP is what angers people. Why is it ok for other kids to be hurt because another child has an issue?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised kids don't ever gang up on the troublemakers at recess and sort it out themselves.

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

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More is coming. We’ve been told “buckle up,” because the new push from above is to have at least 80% of kids with IEPs mainstreamed for at least 80% of the school day. Apparently FCPS has too many kids in separate classes.

How this fits in with IEPs being *individual* plans that shouldn’t be affected by the desire to make inclusion numbers higher, no one has explained to me.

I'm not teaching anymore, but most kids with IEPs do not go around attacking other kids. The kids who harm other kids need a different plan.

And, contrary to what a PP said, "training" cannot always prevent this.

It’s like reading comprehension isn’t a thing. For the 5th time- TRAINING PREVENTS PEOPLE FROM GETTING INJURED WHEN THESE INCIDENTS OCCUR. Clearly, very clearly, other issues need to be addressed. But the SAFETY of students needs to be PRIORITY. Not training staff is NEGLIGENT.

Anonymous wrote:More is coming. We’ve been told “buckle up,” because the new push from above is to have at least 80% of kids with IEPs mainstreamed for at least 80% of the school day. Apparently FCPS has too many kids in separate classes.

How this fits in with IEPs being *individual* plans that shouldn’t be affected by the desire to make inclusion numbers higher, no one has explained to me.

Anonymous wrote:I think parents need to write their lawmakers about IDEA and add them to modify so that violent and disruptive children get (1) the supports they need and (2) get consequences for their behavior. The new Republican crop of lawmakers are insensitive and cold enough that they'd surely change things to better meet the general population's needs at the expense of special ed kids.

Anonymous wrote:We need more classrooms and teachers for SPED students with dysrequlation issues. But we don't want to pay the teachers the money they need or pay for the increased number of teachers needed. Or pay for the space that is needed. There are no appropriate placement options and the schools are forced to drag out the process because a child needs to get to a certain threshold before the admin outside the school will authorize placement in a specialized classroom.

Parents already complain about the amount of money that goes into SPED, not realizing how much the special programs, reading/math specialists, aides, 1-1 aides, materials, classrooms, and bussing cost. It is a lot. We are losing SPED teachers faster than any other group of teachers because there is not enough admin support, in the form of case workers and people to handle paper work, nevermind actual Admin support, backing the teacher and working to find solutions.

It would help if schools could actually discipline kids, but they can't. And it would help if parents reinforced school rules and discipline at home, but many don't. Kids violate class rules, teachers discipline the kid, teachers get in trouble for making the kid feel bad. Teachers send the kid to the office; the kid comes back with a snack or a toy and returns to whatever behavior they had been doing. Teacher calls the parent, who complains tot he principal that the teacher is being mean, and the teacher gets in trouble.

It is ridiculous. And so teachers are quitting, less experienced teachers are in classes and it just gets worse.

But suggest paying teachers a reasonable wage and allowing for actual discipline and you are crazy. Many of the kids acting out are not SPED, they are poorly disciplined at home and there are no consequences at school. SPED kids who are really struggling need self contained classes to help them develop the skills that they need but those classes don't exist. The system is broken but we don't want to fix it because it costs too much.

Anonymous wrote:My kid had a violent classmate in 3rd grade who even punched a teacher. The kid stayed in the class the whole year. It was awful for everyone but special ed kids get priority over everyone else. And before anyone says this is why they want their kids in AAP, this was an AAP class. There’s lots of “twice exceptional” kids in AAP.