How many Special Education Administrators does it take to screw in a light bulb?
First, a parent or several teachers have to get together and agree that the light bulb doesn’t seem to be working well and they need to put their concerns in writing, then after another team is convened to look into the situation and they too agree the light bulb isn’t working but they want to try some informal things, they dust it off, tighten it, joggle it and wiggle it.
Then if it still doesn’t work the psychologist has to test the light bulb and see if there is a discrepancy between its potential and the actual amount of light its giving off, a medical doctor has to examine it for any possible physical problems, then a Speech Language Pathologist has to make sure it clearly understands what its being asked to do (receptive communication) and it is capable of responding to that communication (expressive).
After that another team needs to be convened to talk about the results these individuals have had regarding the light bulb. If all members agree the light bulb isn’t working then they have to debate the many reasons as to WHY the light bulb may not be working.
Some will say it was manufactured incorrectly, others will say it was mistreated or neglected before it arrived, no one will admit to mishandling the light bulb since its been in their possession. Eventually they will agree on one or more reasons.
The next step is to set up an IEP (illumination efficiency plan) that will above all be cost effective, the school will want to replace the light bulb with candles or oil lamps or they may even argue that the sunlight is all that is needed but parents will fight for the new extended life, bright, shiny bulbs. Generally, they end up with a low cost used bulb; occasionally they will start with a new low cost bulb.
After that’s decided, then and only then, is it time to actually attempt to replace the bulb, but it will be several months, maybe years before this actually happens, they always forget to write in an actual name on the IEP as to WHO is responsible for changing the bulb.
Please feel free to use the above in any manner you see fit.
I truly appreciate your sense of humor. If it not suppose to be taken as humerous then I apologize, but sometimes the reality of a situation can be very humerous and if your directly involved then very very frustrating. I am going to e-mail this to a few disgruntaled parents and school employees so I could put a smile on their face.