Another article about yesterday's news can be found here:
State Complaint
We could examine this part of the article closely:
The groups also say the school district isolates students with disabilities through discipline. Disabled students in Hillsborough are 2 1/2 times as likely to lose as least 10 days of school to suspensions or expulsions as other students, they say.
But a veteran of two schools with exceptional student education programs says administrators often mainstream students with behavioral disabilities into regular settings.
"We really believe that every student begins in the least restrictive environment," said Joyce Wieland, a former principal and the district's director for exceptional student education.
It is through later assessment and discussion involving both school administrators and parents that placements change.
"Each student is seen as an individual, and we want all children to learn," Wieland said.
What we don't hear is that the supports and services that should be written into an IEP so that the student can benefit from the least restrictive environment are provided. Simply placing a student in the LRE is not the point. The point is that the teacher and the students need supports and related services. In a real professional ESE world, the change of placement would occur after it is demonstrated that the supports and related services that were written into a well designed IEP do not meet the needs of the student.
I didn't see that from what I read. How many teachers see that in their classrooms?
Posts
4 comments:
My child is often disciplined when it was due to his disablity. The IEP says we are to be notified prior to in school suspensions but we are rarely notified. In fact msot of the provisions of the IEP are ignored on a regular basis. The system is very broken and I wish this lawsuit great success.
I have first hand experience as a part of a disabled child at Ms Wieland's schools. She is not qualified in any way for her current position unless that qualification is to back up a corrupt, cruel District Administration in blocking help to students who are legally entitled to it.
Richard...."highly trained behavior specialist"? Please....just what miracles do you think this "specialist" can perform?
The school system deserves your criticism because they foster the idea that a so called behavior specialist can somehow calm the out of control kid.
I have all kinds of kids in my classroom and find that the accommodations that help kids with disabilities help all kids. We do our best and as far as training, I really believe teaching is an art. You cant teach that.
Teachers do want respect and as long as they dont get it, you will have problems. The best people will gravitate to fields where the money is or where their efforts are appreciated.
Sure...go ahead and bankrupt the school system with your lawsuits. Who is going to teach your kids then? The federal government? LOL...Now that is an organization that that does things right!
I honestly do think you advocates need to bankrupt the system. It wont be pretty and I believe disabled kids will suffer disproportionally but it needs to be done. Tear it down to rebuild it.
Guess what? You are still going to have to hire teachers and if you really want the best for kids, you had better be prepared to pay big bucks for it.
I don't think you will. Try to raise taxes for "the kids". LOL
One more question for you Richard.
Ever hear of "crazy checks"?
Vaughan
To Thomas:
I don't think I know what "crazy checks" are. What are they?
Usually when a student has been in need of behavioral supports and an advocate becomes involved in trying to assist everyone who is responsible for educating the student and there is a request made for a functional behavioral assessment, the Districts response is "there is a trained behavioral specialist in each school". I believe Kevin Murdock was in charge of this plan. Mr. Murdock is a good guy, he just works for the system.
As far as lawsuits and money, money seems to be the only thing that influences school systems. "They" would rather spend the big bucks on defending their practices (not policies) against the infrequent lawsuits than spend money across the board for the many students.
In this particular case, it is a State Complaint, which is far less costly. When I have a little more time, I will post my thoughts on how this will play out, just like it did with the state complaint against HCPS for not providing OT/PT - a finding that was confirmed by the state.
What drives parents and advocates crazy is how school systems say "they" abide by the law and provide "all" kids with an appropriate education right in the face of evidence to the contrary.
Richard, trust me, I am on your side.
I agree 100% that money influences the system. I wish you luck in your battle.
I am throwing in the towel after this year (maybe earlier). I have developed serious health problems and need to live a more stress free life.
I actually had a student witness an Assistant Principal trying to listen to what I said after she left my classroom. Picture this...an adult leaning toward my door listening. The student who observed this told me that I was so loud that it was not necessary to sneak to hear. Then this AP asked my student if I were a good teacher.
I kid you not. You are probably thinking that surreptitiously listening to teachers is a good idea but I assure you they are not interested in improving my teaching skills rather this is yet another clumsy, ham-handed attempt to intimidate me.
They are so silly.
Richard, perhaps I should tell you about "crazy checks" privately as I do not want to leave any impression that I think that this practice is widespread. I am surprised you have never heard of it.
Keep up the good work my friend.
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