How much time and energy do you need to spend fighting a school system before you just give up. I’ve been having this battle for 9 months and the school year is almost over. Maybe I should just change schools for my daughter (currently catholic school) in Canada. Teachers are constantly threatening to strike and were on work to rule the first 7 weeks of this year. HELP!!
It Ain't Over 'Till It's Over
I agree with Sara. If you have other options, research them, and weigh your options, and make a decision.
Throwing in the towel was the best thing I’ve ever done. When my son was in 2nd grade, after 9 months of battle, I decided enough was enough. I was completely stressed out from having wasted this time trying to deal with lying teachers and administrators who simply weren’t going to help my son, despite the test documentation we had. He reaped no benefit at all from the struggle. He was simply 9 months older with the same problems. He’d never have those 9 months back. They were gone.
I transferred him to a different school. The help he received there was sporatic, but at least it was something. And plus, I didn’t have to deal with those horrible people at the old school.
We focused our effort and money on private remediation with people who knew what they were doing and cared about my son.
Do your homework before you move to another school. Meet with the administrators. Speak to parents. Study the test scores for the school. If you do decide to move, be sure you are prepared to start anew. Be sure you have a thorough understanding of your son’s issues and standardized testing documentation to back this up with. Find out what outside help is available for your son and take advantage of everything you can offer him. Don’t forget to look into activities that focus on your son’s strengths. Nurture the strengths, work to remediate the weaknesses.
LJ
Re: when is it enough
Don’t be afraid to look at any and all options — and don’t forget what a big difference next year’s teacher can make, too (good or bad). Sometimes the best thing you can do is free yourself from “but it isn’t right for them to be doing this” — if they are, *you’re* the one who has to deal with the fallout. They get the same paychecks whether you’re happy or not.
I think it can depend on what your other options are. Some people don’t feel they have another option so they tough it out where they are fighting for what they can get. If you have schools from which to choose, you could consider visiting those schools and maybe having a conversation with them about your daughter’s needs and see how they respond.
Good luck.