It is only September and I am so frustrated! Not with the kids, but with the adults that I work with . .… I feel that I am the only one trying to meet the needs of students and follow special education laws. I am going crazy … I feel like I go behind everyone else cleaning up messes and putting out fires. I hate to sound so whiney and gripey, but what do I do?
Re: I feel your pain...
I have a friend who is currently “in the trenches” with her son’s high school. She is going to see about becoming a member of the PTA as an ESE Chair. She plans to have meetings and pass out the “What Every Parent Needs to Know:” and other free informational brochures and pamphlets to the parents of the ESE students at her school. What a great idea! I’m sure the school will love it and support her as she attempts to smooth the process of getting these students the support they need! ;-).
Re: I feel your pain...
I am in that very same position. We have started an advocacy group in our community for our students and we are trying to find a good starting point. Our thoughts were very similiar in the way of a brochure.If your friend would like to conctact me..she may do so at [email protected]. I would love to talk to her and share ideas.
Thanks,
MO
Re: Other parents sympathize
It has been my experience that other parents in my school district have no ideas what special services are/are not provided. Everyone who has asked why my child has been sent outside our district was shocked that our high taxed school wasn’t helping my child.
I think there is more support than we realize I am ready to start hitting the school board meetings and be a PTO person. I hate meetings but maybe it would help.
Re: I feel your pain...
I teach middle school. It isn’t only the reg ed teachers, it is also the others SPED teachers. It is good to hear that others have these kind of stresses. You know, if all I had to do was teach kids, I would be happy.
Just yesterday I had to have a very frank conversation with a team of teachers because they are not making the accommodations for my students in their classes. I told them that they are setting themselves up for a lawsuit. There doesn’t seem to be any magical solution to this problem. My sped director understands the magnitude of the problem and is presenting an idea to the superintendent that a staff development workshop be held to review the laws of sped. It is frustrating and nerve wracking, but I will do whatever it takes to help my kids. You don’t say what grade level you teach, but you might just have to sit down and have a heart-to-heart talk with your colleagues and explain the consequences for their actions. Good luck to you!
Laurie