LD Horror Stories (Experiences in Special Education)

Some of you are probably wondering why I let things go on for as long as I did. Anyone that has had experiences with negitive teachers, I think should know the answer. Teachers are considered authority figures, they went through college supposedly successfully, and seemed to be intelligent, so a student should completely trust those individuals. I figured that what they were stating was the truth. That they, from education, experience, and knowledge knew more then I did, so they must be correct. Only after various negitive and tramuatizing experiences did I realize that something was wrong. I do not know the reasons why I was first labeled LD nor do I know why I was kept in it as long as I was. If anyone has any insight on this could you post.

Allison.

Thank you for posting. For what its worth, your post fit in fine…you write like a veteran poster.

I am so sorry this happened to you. Truth be told, I’m very saddened and overwhelmed.

For now, I’d like to say that I’m proud that you rose about this…your life proves how wrong those people were. You come across as a bright young woman with a wonderful future ahead of her. You will suceed.

I’ll write more in a few days. I’d like to think about your post first.

Barb

From 1987 until 1994, I attended a special education class for math. At that time in my school/city/state,etc. they were seperate from the mainstream classes. They were not known as special ed. classes, but Learning Disabled. They were aligned with the students in the mentally challenged classes. Why, I don’t know. One time durning a cake and ice cream party in middle school, the LD students, had to sit next to the down syndrome and other mentally challenged students at a table at the far end of the lunch room instead of being allowed to set with their friends at the other end of the room. I am sure everyone here knows how cruel classmates can be and can image what ridicule I endured. This also occurred when lunch fell during the math class. I am now beginning to wonder just what I was placed in. According to what I have read on this board and others that LD means that a student’s method of learning a certain subject is impared, and that they have to find other methods of overcoming those hurdles. But, during the time that I was in elementary, middle, and high school, students with this label was considered to be, forgive me for upseting anyone, mentally retarded. I cannot even begin to recall the countless times that I and others in those classes were called that by peers and teachers. There was a time when the teacher had to leave and the class was moved to the mentally challenged wing to be watched by their teachers. Why! From what I have gathered from this website things have changed sort of for the better. Does anyone have any answers? What I am wanting is to find out why this happened. If anyone has any theories feel free to post. To try to have some closure of these past occurrences. Also to find out if anyone else had any experience similar to mine. I will be updating things and adding other memories. This one was probably the hardest memory of all of them. This is the one that effected me the most.

I have no answers.

Your experience is horrible, something no one should have to endure.

I don’t understand it either.

My experience with special ed is much different that yours. I was never in special ed but both my children are. Their experiences are not perfect but so much diffetnet.

I’m glad you found our board and I hope you continue posting.

(Weekends tend to be very slow…don’t give up if you don’t start getting more answers until middle of next week)

Here are some more memories.
During my time in Special Education I endured ridicule from my classmates and teachers, and after I got out of Special Ed. I continued to be ridiculed. Once classmates saw me go into that, “janitor’s closet,” I would always be labeled, “the retard or stupid idot.” I knew inside that I was not. This is more painful than I thought, but I am beginning to feel a release of tension. Because of being labeled LD, I had no friends. Kids would pretend that they wanted my friendship only to pull some cruel prank. In high school, I spent lunch sitting alone, at times overhearing people talking about me like I was not there or could not comprehend. Eventually, I quit going to the lunch room all together and spent lunch period in the library reading.

In middle school, I endured something that an 8th grader should not have to endure. We were about to be let out for Christmas vacation. The math class was in the afternoon. The principal had dressed up as Santa Claus and was visiting the mentally challenged classes and LD classes. 8th grade, a year before high school, teenagers or almost teenagers some no doubt older, and they thought that the principal was Santa Claus. I remember setting at my desk in shock and horror as I watched 13, 14, and know telling how much older, students run up to the school principal, sitting on his lap, and shouting what they wanted for Christmas. Here I was 13 about to turn 14, and listening to teenagers annouce that they desired children’s toys. As soon as the bell rang, I recall running out of the room as quickly as possible, and bursting into tears as I walked out of the classroom and into the hallway.

Any group activity in the mainstream classes I was excluded because I was deemed ignorant by my peers even though I was making A’s in the class. Just because of that one class and a handfull of gossipy classmates I was judged the worst type of judgement a person, much less a child should endure. It got to the point that I would ask the teacher if I could do the projects by myself. I was always the last person to be chosen, was never given any assignment, or was I allowed to participate. Which meant that I was ignored when I spoke up, by those in the group, and spent most of the time listening to what the others had to say.

In high school I would spend many mainstream class study halls in the library. When study hall fell during the math class, I was not allowed to leave the classroom. If one had to use the restroom that individual had to take with them a wooden block with restroom written in big colorful letters. In any other class you just had to ask permission and be back within a reasonable amount of time.

I have endured signs placed on my back with, “Watch out for the retard,” Chewing gum in my hair, being knocked down, having things put in my lunch food, denied the opportunity to date much less go to my junior and senior prom, have any friends, etc. all because of the fact that I was labeled Learning Disabled. What makes this so sickening is that I was only in it that one year of high school and just that one class throughout middle school. But, people would see me walk up to that class or be segregated during a school function and I was instantly labeled and nothing I did to try and prove otherwise would deter their opinions. Even during my senior year having been in a normal math class and college prep. classes in everything else, I was still being ridiculed for something that had occurried in 9th grade, and in middle school.

I am getting very emotional here so if I start making grammatical mistakes or things start getting incoherent. I am crying. Like someone posted. No one should have to go through what I went through. I just wonder why and if those teacher’s or whom ever made that decision to place me in special ed. instead of a tutor realize now what they did, by giving an 8 year old so much burden and pain for so many years. I have had to live with this for so long either visably apparent or kept inside as a festering wound that just would not heal.

The people of those classes I am sure were intelligent in their own way and would have been good friends under different circumstances. But, for a 8-13 year old placed in such a situation, I could only look at the classmates at face value. Some had the mentallity of a young child, others could not speak, walk, hear, etc. One incident dealt again with the math class in middle school, one of the classmates was, I guess, not potty trained. Your imaginations can probably figure out what my emotions were like. In middle school, I should have done something then, but when special ed. teachers year after year are telling you that you are “retarded” and that special classes are all that you are capable of. There comes a time when you eventually believe what they are saying. Which is basically what I was stating in another post.

I cannot completely recall this, so the memory is not as clear, as the other ones. But, I am thinking that the LD classes were not graded. The other day, I was looking back at old yearbooks trying to open up other memories when I noticed that a couple of the students that where in freshman learning disabled math were juniors and seniors. I am not sure what was going on. How were these students allowed to graduate when they could barely count and some had to ask the teacher to spell their names. Nothing makes any sense, in my opinion. Why would I be placed in such a place and why were these students not taught, at least what would allow them to function in society.

Also, I am recalling an incident dealing with calculators. Instead of allowing the students to work with, “normal calculators”, they brought in calculators that were brightly colored in bright red, blue, and yellow, with circus animals along its frame and on each number pad.

We were not allowed to take the textbooks with us. The books had to remain in the classroom. This occurred throughout both middle school and high school. The textbooks, if they could be called textbooks, were old elementary school math books with big print and cartoon’s on each page. They covered only the basics: basic addition, basic subtraction, very little multiplication and division, and if I am recalling correctly one small chapter dealt with the beginnings of fractions. Different shapes cut in pieces was what consisted for fractions.

For years I have dealt with the ramifications of what occurred in elementary school, middle school, and high school, now, I realize that in order to move on with my life, I need to try to understand why this happened. Before finding this board I was uncomfortable speaking or even resurfcing the memories of what had occurred. I had always wondered why, but had been to scared to mention what happened to anyone, for fear that I would be labled again, and would have to repeat all of those nightmares. Why, would someone with what seemed to be a normal intelligence who had trouble with fractions would be labled LD instead of the school hiring a real tutor to correct my problems. According to my parents, I showed no signs of being disabled, no signs of having trouble in basic mathematics with the exception of fractions.

I thank God for now allowing me a normal life. With the exception of memories resurfacing at times and dreams. I have trouble trusting people, making friends, feelings of being a perfectionist, depression, and questions of what could have been. I guess I am, “normal.” It is amazing now that I look back that I managed to come out of this in as good of shape as I have. I would love to be able to repeat those years knowing what I know now. But, I can only wonder what would have happened had this horrible nightmare not occurred. Where would I be today. What I have went through has made me a stronger person. There are other things that I probably recall, but after years of desiring to forget the pain and heartache, only hypnosis would open them up. Thank you for allowing me to come onto this board. I hope that more people will respond who have had similar situations, or theories to why this possibly could have occurred. Just being allowed to type these memories in a place that I know that it will be read and understood allows for a sense of freedom.

OMG Allison how awful. My frind’s LD son experienced similar abuse.

Is it too late to sue?

Allison, your story and mine are very similar. I remember the resource room being like one stop shopping or something. I took my special ed math classes with people who had Downs Syndrome, Autism, and various other developmental disabilities as well as with folks who had some pretty profound behavioral/emotional issues. I honestly do not remember a great many students with straight up l.d. in those classes back then. All of my other classes, I took with the “regular” students. It is odd that you graduated high school in ‘94. I graduated high school in ‘92, and I remember a great many of the resource room classmates of mine who had to take all their classes at special ed level get competion diplomas, which are also known as certificates of attendance. I got lucky in that I have a math l.d. and did not get one of those, but if it were not for my asking to get the heck fire out of resource in grade ten, I think I would have came close to obtianing one of those.
I think when you have a bad resource room experience. Like, if you were paddled for doing messy homework even if you did not mean to…if you were made to feel like crud because of the “stigma” of the resource room. Well, I think all of us who grew up in our respective eras are lucky in that we have made it through in one piece. I mean, I had to work hard-and I still work hard- to fill in some gaps. Like, When I was right at in grade seven I was learning to subtract and divide. And I mean like a second grader I was learning that, but not with a teacher…with a stack of zeroxes in a folder that I had to work through that whole academic year. Then the next year it would be a whole stack of zeroxes that had like subtracting two numbers instead of one and so on and so on. So, I look back on this nonsense from way back when and I use it to fuel me to do well at University and at the workplace. I hope you do too, because remember that what does not kill us only makes us stronger.

I think there are many who did NOT make it out in one piece. Our prisons are full of them.

Do you think that these horror stories are indicative of a certain generation? Or, do you think that these horror stories are still going on now? I wonder of this, for I haven’t children-and my friends who have children have like preschoolers and infants. So, I am not hip to what is going on as of right now with regards to this matter. I mean, yeah, a fair amount of students who were[i] left behind[/i] in the 80’s and 90’s totally went on to do some bad things. But, there are also a fair amount who did not. Two people I did the resource room shuffle with have been in and out of prison for a long while…one of those people I am pretty sure was very mildly developmentally disabled.
I guess what I am wondering is what are things like now? Is the No Child LEft Behind Act going to harm l.d. youngsters and whatnot? Where I live, most news about this matter is about schools working to just try and stay off target lists and not to much else. Heck, where I live the lady who runs the school board has basically given up on this current generation of youngsters and is focusing on pre kindergarten programs.

More memories are starting to surface. After 11 years of trying to block them out I am having a hard time trying to bring them back.

In 9th grade, I had signed up for Spanish. The class went well for that year. When it came time to sign up for Spanish II. I was told that I could not take the class. My grades were A’s and B’s. I cannot understand why, unless it dealt with the approval of the LD department. It seems, now looking back, that the LD department had control of what I could take and not take. In 11th grade, I wanted to take advanced American History. I was told that I could not take that course. That the futherest I could go was college prep.. I was not told why. I had been out of special education for almost two years and they were still telling me what I could and could not take. But, I went against the advisors approval and signed up for it after the advisor had already signed my schedule sheet. I made A’s in the class.

Also even though I was making A’s and B’s I was never allowed to make honor roll. I questioned this once. And the answer was very rudely given that I had to have all four years of high school in advanced classes with A’s and B’s.

In middle school, the LD kids were asked if they wanted to participate in the special olympics. I recall going home crying feeling embarrassed and stupid just because they had the nerve to go and ask if these students wanted to participate. This left me feeling that I must be retarded. That horrified me. I wanted to get out of LD math so badly, but everything that I did was not acceptable even though my ablities were above the other students. It was almost like I was a dollar sign to the LD department. The more students declared, LD, the more money the LD department receives. If they kept the kids scared enough and stupid enough then they could slip through the program un-noticed. I knew that I did not belong, but I did not know how to get myself out of the situation and I was to scared to tell my parents what was occurring.

Like Merlin stated, the majority of the class population had major problems. In fact, I think that I might have been the only one that attended mainstream classes at my school. Some would cry for their parents when class met in the morning in 7th and 8th grade. One carried around a stuffed animal all day and sucked his thumb. Throughout class they would yell and scream, use foul language, and one individual would always fall asleep on the floor, and the teacher would not wake the student up. None of the students were punished. In my opinion they were just left to rot.

In 8th grade we had a school dance. For some stupid reason I attended. The LD afternoon and mentally challeged classes were corded off in a square from the other students with a rope. Since I did not attend the math class during the afternoon I could remain with everyone else. I recall that no one came up to speak to me. None of the guys asked me to dance. Then came the time for the girls to ask the guys out. There was one guy that I had a crush on. He seemed like a nice guy. I noticed that he, for the time being, was setting on a bench, appearing to be alone. I went up to him to ask him for one dance. He stood up, stared at me really funny, and stated, “No I will not you sick retarded bitch. Go back to your own kind.” After that he and his friends told every possible rumor they could think of. All of them sickening to hear. This left me with no friends and no chances of having a boyfriend.

I am remembering more of the high school intelligence test. The test was in a storage room in the principals office. A table had been forced into the room. The first activities began with colors, letters, basic number’s, etc. What I remember most is the colored blocks and you had to put them into patterns. Pegs designed into various shapes. Point to the picture of the cat, dog, father, mother, baby, house, car, etc. How to tie a shoe. How do you use a knife and fork. Similarites and differences. How to color. Then it went on to include a simple story book similar in wording, “To See Spot Run.” Putting together simple sentences. Basic addition and subtraction. Mostly counting how many of something or taking away the amount. Acting fairy tales or stories, cannot remember which, with felt puppets. The order of items in a list. If I remember correctly it took the whole day or almost the whole day. I recall that I missed the majority of my mainstream classes and that I had to eat lunch there. This was in 9th grade. Why?

In 6th grade all of the LD classes were asked to perform a play. I don’t know for whom because I choose not to participate or attend. But, I recall the students talking about it. The play was, [u]The Three Little Pigs. [/u]. I recall one day the entire class arrived in their costumes. You can imagine my feelings at seeing this occur and have to endure the, “normal classmates,” shouting, “Look at the pigs.” The pigs all happened to be in my math class. And their shouting at me, “Why are you not a pig,” and going, “Onk, Onk.” For the rest of the year I got the nickname, “Onk.” I cannot understand why the other students appeared not to be effected by the actions of the normal students. I also learnt that during this time that they were taken out of what few regular classes they attended to work on the production of their play. That the LD English classes were writing the scripts. What the others did I do not know. In the math class there where three pigs, and a farmer.

During the math class study hall, in middle school, I recall that instead of allowing the students to work on their homework, they watched cartoons. Which always interrupted my studying since I was not allowed to go to the library.

That is so appalling. When you hear horror stories like that it makes it easeier to see why we have tragic event like at Columbine.

The school should have some control over the student who would taunt the sped kids.

Your story is not unique. The abuse that you describe goe on everyday in our schools and the adults do nothing about it.

You should put that story in your local newspaper so that you can embarass the whole school system in your town and to warn parents of LD kids just how bad it is.

I have tears in my eyes after reading what you have written. It brings back memories.

You should take legal action against your former school. You were horribly abused and they did nothing to stop it. You have been scarred for life.

Yeah, your right it does need to be addressed. An idea that I have thought of, but chose against because, it would, I think be more trouble then it would be worth. Like Merlin stated, are today’s special education students forced to endure this or have things changed for the better? People need to realize what is occurring in the school systems. Also something that I have been wondering, was it just the public schools that had these problems or where they in the private schools? When I started college I left behind the past in what I guess can be considered a mental locked box. I have treasured being, I guess, normal. I have taken my time with college so that I could regain the lost pleasures of being a normal student. I now have friends, attend school functions, etc. But, the damage is still apparent at times. Like I mentioned before I have trouble making friends and trusting people. College was like opening the door to the real me. Thank You for listening.

Why was my post deleted?

I simply asked if the interpersonal problems adult LDers have are a result of the LD or the chronic abuse LD students get at the hands of the educational system and teachers.

Allison has written some of the best stuff I have ever read about the abuse of special needs students in the school setting and I value her opinion. I would have liked to have heard what she had to say.

Why was my post deleted?

I simply asked if the interpersonal problems adult LDers have are a result of the LD or the chronic abuse LD students get at the hands of the educational system and teachers.

Allison has written some of the best stuff I have ever read about the abuse of special needs students in the school setting and I value her opinion. I would have liked to have heard what she had to say.

I’m not sure if I saw your post before it went away, so I can only guess. Here are some explanations:

This site has had severe problems with an internet troll. This person gets some sick pleasure out of hurting people and starting fights. He deliberately picks on people’s sore points and posts rude, insulting, inflammatory comments.
He also posts all sorts of fake “research” which consists of google searches of everything out on the web that mentions a particular topic, the good, the bad, the very very ugly, and the totally fake all in one mish-mash.
As his one talent is picking on people’s sore points, he often succeeds in getting feelings riled up, and then there are pointless arguments, hurt feelings, and people leaving the board in a huff. All very counterproductive and in opposition to the purpose of the board.

Due to these repeated attacks, which have been going on for over two years now, this board has changed format two or three times and has now gone to a required sign-in policy so that the troll posts can be deleted and the latest incarnation banned.
Also, there are more people monitoring the board more often and more strictly. This is a *lot* of work, very thankless work, and one very nice person that I was communicating with over these problems has even changed jobs leaving LDOnline because he wants to work with computers, not managing stupid squabbles.

Posts are deleted if they contain obscenities, insults to other users, rabble-rousing or flaming, recommendations of actions that are illegal or dangerous, false statements, and other things that are irrelevant to the purpose of the board namely helping people with LD.

You may have accidentally — I certainly hope accidentally — hit on a word or phrase which one of the board monitors identifies with the troll.

By the way, in the typical manner of the immature adolescent troublemaker, when the troll gets deleted he plays the innocent and does the “why was I deleted/banned?” bit; he also logs on under various names and posts support messages for his previous identity, more rabble-rousing. So “why was I deleted?” is unfortunately another red flag.

Try rephrasing your comments on sober second thought and know that the monitors are drawing a fine line between keeping an open discussion and allowintg the bullies to take over, not an easy line to follow.

PS
Posts are also deleted if they contain advertisements, links to non-educational commercial sites, chain letters, pyramid schemes, other get-rich-quick schemes, pornography, and links to pornography. Also faking people’s names and posting under a false ID. You may not realize how much of this junk has to go away unless you cruise the board late at night before the garbage gets removed.

Victoria, thanks for the 411 on the troll. Could you PM and tell me who it is so that I can avoid him. I have been lurking and I have not seen any trollish behavior so the mods must be doing a good job.

Now that I think of it, I think it was because I said I with that sort of abuse of students I can understand why events like Columbine happen. I ceratinly would never advocate that students resort that that kind of violence but situations like those described by Allison certainly provide a breeding dground for that sort of terrible thing. Even “normal” kids kids can’t think past lunchtime so I think kids, boys especially who are subjected to the sort of abuse that Allison and many of us have been forced to endure could have serious consequences for those who would perpetrate such cruel and cowardly abuse.

I was moved to tears by Allison’s posts because it stirred up some bad memories of my own. I am glad it did because now I realize some of the fears and self doubt that are holding me back are directly related to my very unhappy time from K-12.

I have read some of your posts and I really like your insights and direct way of thinking. Can you think of some recovery strategies for the many people who have been through what Allison and I have been through?

I could suggest individual counseling or group therapy to explore your feelings and such, but you’ve probably heard that already.

What I’d like to pass along is something I’ve heard over and over again from clients I’ve worked with during the past 30+ years…

Success is the sweetest revenge. :)

John

[quote:2dcb728957=”JohnBT”]I could suggest individual counseling or group therapy to explore your feelings and such, but you’ve probably heard that already.

What I’d like to pass along is something I’ve heard over and over again from clients I’ve worked with during the past 30+ years…

Success is the sweetest revenge. :)

John[/quote]

I don’t think revenge is even an issue. What is at issue is providing for LD kids a safe, warm and helpful enviroment. Allison and the rest of the LD students do not deserve the abuse that they suffer in the dungeons of SPED.

Nobody’s suggesting any of it was deserved; the question you asked was:

”. Can you think of some recovery strategies for the many people who have been through what Allison and I have been through?”

It seems that you wanted suggestions for what to do now — which were therapy, or focusing on succeeding *anyway* and channeling the anger & frustration to proving the demons wrong.

Another tactic is desensitization - going out and finding a “safe, warm and helpful environment” and in that surrounding tackling some of those demons. (It’s what I try to provide in this learning lab - you’re welcome to come out to Illinois :-))

[quote:686a152fdc=”Sue”]Nobody’s suggesting any of it was deserved; the question you asked was:

”. Can you think of some recovery strategies for the many people who have been through what Allison and I have been through?”

It seems that you wanted suggestions for what to do now — which were therapy, or focusing on succeeding *anyway* and channeling the anger & frustration to proving the demons wrong.

Another tactic is desensitization - going out and finding a “safe, warm and helpful environment” and in that surrounding tackling some of those demons. (It’s what I try to provide in this learning lab - you’re welcome to come out to Illinois :-))[/quote]

I am not suggesting that anyone is suggesting that they deserve but obviously the people subjecting them to the type of abuse that Allison has described believe that they do desreve to be abused. If the detainees at Gitmo were subjected to the abuse LD kids get in our schools Amnesty International would be making a big stink about it.

Bless the beasts and the children. They have no voice. They have no choice. :>(

Just read what is going on. I understood what you were trying to say. Your post is still visible. If you were talking about the censored word it does not take much to figure it out. From my personal experience, I believe that LD is not a disablity, but something created by poor teaching. If in 3rd grade, I had had someone that was as willing as the teachers aide in 10th grade was, I would not be here right now writing on this board. Because, I was placed in that enviroment in 3rd grade and left with the skills of a 3rd grader and below until 10th grade. I developed an LD from the lost information. But, due to caring individuals willing to teach me what I had missed I was able develop my ablities in mathematics.

[quote:03aee52ec3=”Allison”]Just read what is going on. I understood what you were trying to say. Your post is still visible. If you were talking about the censored word it does not take much to figure it out. From my personal experience I believe that LD is not a disablity, but something created by poor teaching. If in 3rd grade, I had had someone that was as willing as the teachers aide in 9th grade was, I would not be here right now writing on this board. Because, I was placed in that enviroment in 3rd grade and left with the skills of a 3rd grader and below until 10th grade. I developed an LD from the lost information. But, due to caring individuals willing to teach me what I had missed I was able develop my ablities in mathematics.[/quote]

I don’t know if I believe that poor teaching causes LD but a certaibly wouldn’t rule it out. There is no question that the overall negative learning experience LD kids are forced to endure at the hands of lousy teachers certainly makes thing worse in terms of cogntion, emotional state and motivational drive for these unfortunate victims of an educational sysyem that sees them as a burden and not worthy of a proper education and proper remedial help.

The idea that poor teaching is the cause is an intriguing and it makes sense when you consider that kids labled LD reach their developmental milestones at the same time as non LD kids.

Allison, you make an interesting point.

ANd it still boils down to dealing with now and the future before you - ‘cause that’s what you can change :-)

Here is another memory.
When it came time for the mandatory state testing the LD students were given no preparation. Why! I can recall the teachers in special education math not informing their students that they would have to be tested on the same level as the “normal students.” The teachers would, it seemed to me, ignore the fact that their students were going to be tested on a level that they had no preparation for, nor with the skills that they were being taught capable of. I remember going into a normal math class, preparing to attempt my best on the test, only to find out that I had never been taught how to work the questions. That was the most horrible feeling, knowing that I should be familar with the questions based on my grade level, and being unable to work the problems because I had never seen them before, let alone knew what to do with them.

Each class would begin with spelling the teachers name, month, date, and day of the week. We were not allowed to use our own paper, but had to use large print (like what is used when learning how to write). This was in middle school and high school.

Why were the teachers told to approach teaching their classes this way? Didn’t they realize that this was wrong and would be harmful to their students?

[quote:e26ef8d25c=”Allison”]Here is another memory.
When it came time for the mandatory state testing the LD students were given no preparation. Why! I can recall the teachers in special education math not informing their students that they would have to be tested on the same level as the “normal students.” The teachers would, it seemed to me, ignore the fact that their students were going to be tested on a level that they had no preparation for, nor with the skills that they were being taught capable of. I remember going into a normal math class, preparing to attempt my best on the test, only to find out that I had never been taught how to work the questions. That was the most horrible feeling, knowing that I should be familar with the questions based on my grade level, and being unable to work the problems because I had never seen them before, let alone knew what to do with them.

Each class would begin with spelling the teachers name, month, date, and day of the week. We were not allowed to use our own paper, but had to use large print (like what is used when learning how to write). This was in middle school and high school.

Why were the teachers told to approach teaching their classes this way? Didn’t they realize that this was wrong and would be harmful to their students?[/quote]

Let it suffice to say that the intentions of many schools regarding their LD students is less than honorable.

Allison, teachers have to do what they are told to do by their superiors, the principal and the superintendent.

The more LD students there appears to be at a school the more funding the school will get.

As to the answer to your questions. I can’t answer them here but given the above you I have no doubt you can reach your own conclusions.

I would like to be allowed to answwer your last question. They know damn well what they do is wrong. There is no plausable explanation that would not be sinister.

Again, I urge you to look into taking legal action against your school not ony on behalf of yourself but on behalf of futer LD students.

Wrong doing is wrong doing no matter how you slice it. When laws are being broken and rights are being violated legal action is often the only remedy. If people are not held accountable for their wrong doing and in this case it is porbably criminal, that wrong doing will only continue.

Perhaps you state’s atty general will investigate your school system. Who knows whatelse he my turn up?

Forgive me for rambling on and on with my memories. I feel that if I write about them then the tension might ease. Several individuals have posted stating that they went through similar situations to what happened to me. Is it possible, if not too painful, could you share some of your memories? I did it. It is not that hard. You just use up a box of tissues. Maybe by telling our stories, the parents of the present generation can see if this is still occurring or maybe prevent these situations from occurring to anyone else? Thank You for allowing me to come onto this board.

Allison there is no need for you to apologize to anyone. You should be commended for bring this up. I also would like you to know that you are not alone.

In my case I got no support at home. I became my family’s big disapointment. My school experience was not positive but compared to the hell you went thorugh it was a dream.

I only had to take remedial reading even though I qulaified for sped. My parent were too ashamed to have “one of their kids” in the “special class”.

I endured the ridicule that people like us get from teachers and other teachers were helpful and patient. The ones who were decent made goingto school worth while but theire were times I would skip school because I just could not face the unpleasantness and failure.

My LD is moderate to severe but I think being “mainstreamed” even though technically I should not have been saved me from the crap that you went through.

I don’t think things have changed too much for this generation. I think the lip service may be better but I think the reality for them is even worse.
:>(

So you think it was because of money. I was thinking that also, but did not want to believe that it could be possible. It is sicken that the hell they put children through was all because of money. So you think that things are worse now? How so?

[quote:df91d50c25=”Allison”]So you think it was because of money. I was thinking that also, but did not want to believe that it could be possible. It is sicken that the hell they put children through was all because of money. So you think that things are worse now? How so?[/quote]

I think it varies from school to school. Some schools are loaded with bad personel while others have some decent caring people.

I have found that when ever something seems to defy all logical explanations it is usually all about the money.

Overall I would say that things are worse because the qulity of teachers has been on the decline for quite some time. Even though we throw a gret deal of money on education I doubt if you will find much difference in schodthat pay teachers well and ones that don’t.

You need to remember that many teachers become employed right out of college. They are not held to the same standards of performance that even a waitress is held to. Their boss the principal was formerly a teacher so he will cut them every break possible.

Educators don’t live in the real world. Like their 5th graders they don’t think past lunch. They look at LD kids as a problem to pass on to somebody else. I think it is a bit niave to expect people who are not held to real world standards to have what it takes to treat kids with a normal level of common courtesy let alone educate them.

We can throw twice the money at the education crisis and thing will still reamin the same. Along with the money we need to set standards similar to those Europe and Japan sets for their educators. Any teacher who can’t make the grade I’m sure they will do fine at McDonalds. Ah,……… maybe not. :>)

I saw my happy sensitive curious beautiful son, turn into a sullen depressed teen who had no confidence and I couldn’t figure out why until he had a brake down of sorts, quit school and finally months later was able to verbalize the mental abuse he had to endure being labled special ED. The teachers even refered to them as retards! Once when Jeremy corrected his History teacher on something, as he is an expert on history, he was verbally abused in front of the class! Instead of encouragement he was crushed.

[quote:357c93977c=”Mychildisanadult”]I saw my happy sensitive curious beautiful son, turn into a sullen depressed teen who had no confidence and I couldn’t figure out why until he had a brake down of sorts, quit school and finally months later was able to verbalize the mental abuse he had to endure being labled special ED. The teachers even refered to them as retards! Once when Jeremy corrected his History teacher on something, as he is an expert on history, he was verbally abused in front of the class! Instead of encouragement he was crushed.[/quote]

Typical of most schools.

Allison, your Real Life Biorgrahphy of LD Trials and Tribulations is truly amazing. i can’t believe you actually remember all that. woww

It feels like i was reading directly from the pages of my life, getting shivers just thinking about it.

For a long time i felt i was alone under these circumstances, I must say this is the first i’ve ever read that i real is just as extreme as my own, without the genius and going to college. but add to it switching 4 to 5 schools between 3rd and 8th grade all within the same town jurisdictions

I have to ask how have you handled it now?, depression, friends etc…

Its scarry but it does seem to be an issue still, WE need to address it, action plan, advocoacy even some type of association that directly addresses these issues with schools, students and parents. We need more people like Rick Lavoie

Thank you so much

If i get time i’ll have to post my story, as well.

Thank you again

Please do post your story. I would like to hear it.

Part 1 of ?

This should be interesting…

The 1st memorary I have of my LD is that of being in the 3rd Grade, and the teacher pulling me out of class and bringing me to the guidance counselor where my parents, some teachers and others where all waiting as if about to proceed with a business meeting, i now assume to discuss and plan my what was my unplanned future. I don’t recall what was actualy said it was certain that i was way below averge of the other kids and was going to need special schooling. and for that I have surely lived the results, unaccountable of course on their end. This was the beginning of a long and windy road which i had no control over being just a kid, but now feeling like i was only being readjusted, anylyezed and tested over and over again by my parents, teachers, school systems as if some type of problem or issue rather then a human. My life was literaly being molded by these people, on who i am today. I know after that day, there was constant arugments with my parents with how they should proceed with me, schooling, special care etcc.. but very little empathy. more like i said a problem or issue…

To be Continued…soon

Thanks for writing. Hopefully like me you will feel a release of tension that has been bottled up inside for too long. When writing, take yourself mentally back in time, relive every event that you can recall. Whether good or bad. It helps to have a box of tissues. You where asking how are things now? Right now things are for the most part good. I am trying to stay away from getting depressed. Like I said before I have trouble trusting people. Which I am trying to work on.

Start with your first day of school and work your way forward. Then as each memory comes to you clear and defined, write it down. Don’t be afraid. That was what I was doing. I was petrified that if I let those memories out I would be labeling myself all over again. Even though I found that I was not like what they stated I still at times think that I am. Because of being mentally abused I believed subconciously that what they stated was the truth and I have to remind myself in the concious realm that I am now normal.

I know it’s been awhile, but I have been busy. Here is another memory. In the “tutor room,” I can recall the constant writing of equations to the point that my fingers became raw, stiff, and on the verge of being bloody. Even today I have a knot on one my of fingers and arthritis, which results in severe pain when writing too much. When I did not do something correctely the supposed, “tutor”, would slap my hands with a wooden ruler.

In 12th grade English I had to give a speech, of course that was quite difficult given my past history, I recall standing up and beginning the speech. I am not sure how far I got but I was then ridiculed and laughed at by my fellow classmates. Who I am sure from day one did not want me in the class to begin with. I remember returning to my seat with tears in my eyes listening to the students state how did that idot manage to get into our classroom.

In 6th grade gymn, my clothes ended up in the toilet, so I had to spend the rest of the day in my gymn uniform. No one was ever found or punished for that.

Once the math class was being babyset by the LD English class. They were watching “Reading Rainbow,” and encouraged to check out the books listed. This was in 9th grade. I would think that this program would have been unappropriate for high school students. Here I was reading Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales,” and Spencer’s “The Fairie Queen,” trying to translate Medieval English.

In 9th grade all of the LD classes went on a field trip to the public library. Instead of being allowed to be on our own we where forced to stay together. I remember that I started to head towards the History stacks and was quickly told to remain with the group. Upon telling the teacher that my interest was history and that I would be spending the period in that location I was reprimanded by the LD teacher and told that I could not possibly have any intrest in that area and to come with her. We ended up in the children’s wing where we were taught all about Library Science, etc. and told that we could check out a book from the children’s stacks. The odd thing about all of this was that morning I had been at the library with my government class and allowed to freely roam and check out what ever I pleased. I recall that I even, during the morning, roamed into the community archives area and spent some time looking and touching 200 year old documents.

[Modified by: Allison on June 03, 2008 06:55 PM]

[Modified by: Allison on June 03, 2008 06:56 PM]

I so very much hate the stigmas that the normals attach to us. We’re not mutants or freaks. We’re people too , albeit a little different, we are still people too.
I had some bad memories of my own too but here, I think that many of us here are “our own kind” and that we can find a place here.
Hugs work really well with folks like us. They do go a long way.