quote:

In speaking with our psychologist, Mrs. _______, she made it clear that she will not be labeling one of my students(--) as emotionally disturbed. Her reasoning was that, since the student is currently doing well, she is going to disregard the mountain of evidence we have collected.

This evidence included multiple documented assaults on staff members. These assaults include: hitting, kicking, and biting.

This student has also attempted to stab our principal.

Our entire third grade has been structured around supporting this student. We have the following interventions in place for this student:
-Reduced class size(15 students in his class, compared to 22 and 21 in the other classes)
-Special class without any other students with behavior issues
-Class without any students who trigger his behavior
-Daily behavior chart with rewards
-45 minutes a day for reward with Sped team
-30 minutes of 1-on-1 playtime/bonding time with classroom teacher(me) after close of school
-daily check-ins and reward with our vice principal
-All third grade staff monitoring behavior and coordinate interventions
-Raffle tickets/reward for on task behavior

And because this is currently working(no one is getting stabbed/hit/bitten/ect.) Mrs. _____ is going to decline to label him emotionally disturbed.

So, because we have gone above and beyond as a staff, and our interventions are working AT THE MOMENT, this student will not receive services. This is the reward for going above and beyond to meet a student's needs? And you wonder why there is a teacher shortage? And we wonder why we have school shootings?

Beyond the threat of bodily injury, staff is further in danger of losing their teaching certificates due to the necessity of restraining this student when he is threatening the safety of others. Everyone at (our school) knows that this student is dangerous, but that will mean nothing in a court of law. If a teacher ends up in front of a judge for having to restrain an emotionally disturbed student, there should be documentation in place that shows that this student has been identified as emotionally disturbed. Imagine the lawsuits.

When I set up my classroom this summer, I considered every object in my room and contemplated whether each could be used to stab someone. As I considered each object, I would try to imagine if it would puncture my intestines if I were used to be stab me in the stomach. My scissors could be locked away, but my classroom is still filled with pencils and other objects that can be used as weapons.

But I guess none of this matters?

I have an IEP meeting for this student at 2:45 today. I am fully prepared to watch this system once again completely fail.

If a student who wraps a cord around their neck and pulls it tight, assaults multiple staff members, and tries to stab the principal is not emotionally disturbed, then who is?

quote:

Originally posted by JBrown:
I have been on the warpath all day. I found out that a student who I have in my class is not going to be diagnosed as Emotionally Disturbed because our school psychologist doesn't want him to be "labeled".

This school psychologist does not live in our state and only travels in a few times a year. She has spent a half hour with this kid and has observed him in class twice.

We have a meeting for this student today, and last night I received a word that this psych had already decided that she wasn't going to give him an ED diagnosis, even though she hadn't reviewed his behavior file.

Livid, I sent this email to our superintendent, principal, vice principal and special ed director:

quote:

In speaking with our psychologist, Mrs. _______, she made it clear that she will not be labeling one of my students(--) as emotionally disturbed. Her reasoning was that, since the student is currently doing well, she is going to disregard the mountain of evidence we have collected.

This evidence included multiple documented assaults on staff members. These assaults include: hitting, kicking, and biting.

This student has also attempted to stab our principal.

Our entire third grade has been structured around supporting this student. We have the following interventions in place for this student:
-Reduced class size(15 students in his class, compared to 22 and 21 in the other classes)
-Special class without any other students with behavior issues
-Class without any students who trigger his behavior
-Daily behavior chart with rewards
-45 minutes a day for reward with Sped team
-30 minutes of 1-on-1 playtime/bonding time with classroom teacher(me) after close of school
-daily check-ins and reward with our vice principal
-All third grade staff monitoring behavior and coordinate interventions
-Raffle tickets/reward for on task behavior

And because this is currently working(no one is getting stabbed/hit/bitten/ect.) Mrs. _____ is going to decline to label him emotionally disturbed.

So, because we have gone above and beyond as a staff, and our interventions are working AT THE MOMENT, this student will not receive services. This is the reward for going above and beyond to meet a student's needs? And you wonder why there is a teacher shortage? And we wonder why we have school shootings?

Beyond the threat of bodily injury, staff is further in danger of losing their teaching certificates due to the necessity of restraining this student when he is threatening the safety of others. Everyone at (our school) knows that this student is dangerous, but that will mean nothing in a court of law. If a teacher ends up in front of a judge for having to restrain an emotionally disturbed student, there should be documentation in place that shows that this student has been identified as emotionally disturbed. Imagine the lawsuits.

When I set up my classroom this summer, I considered every object in my room and contemplated whether each could be used to stab someone. As I considered each object, I would try to imagine if it would puncture my intestines if I were used to be stab me in the stomach. My scissors could be locked away, but my classroom is still filled with pencils and other objects that can be used as weapons.

But I guess none of this matters?

I have an IEP meeting for this student at 2:45 today. I am fully prepared to watch this system once again completely fail.

If a student who wraps a cord around their neck and pulls it tight, assaults multiple staff members, and tries to stab the principal is not emotionally disturbed, then who is?

And the email included a photo of said student in the middle of a complete meltdown, with a headphone cord double wrapped around his neck and pulled tight.

And we wonder why this system is failing.....

I had better get to my meeting.

quote:

I did voice my agreement and supported the concept that " public education" is for the good of the body or the majority, rather than the individual.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Mitchell:
I used to coach my kid's t-ball and coach pitch games and had a kid one year that was straight-up disturbed. He would tackle base runners instead of trying to field the ball and throw them out. Anytime he got a hit, he would chase the ball instead of running to first base. Finally, he attacked another one of the kids while we were in the dug-out. Pushed him off the bench into a chain link fence and started waling on him....for no apparent reason. I told the parents he was off the team but was subsequently contacted by the YMCA that ran the program and was told that I could not unilaterally make that decision. The process to get the kid off the team went on for weeks. It was ridiculous.

My sense of it is the organizations are worried about litigation.

Damn lawyers.

quote:

Originally posted by JTEX:

quote:

I did voice my agreement and supported the concept that " public education" is for the good of the body or the majority, rather than the individual.

A very important concept!!!!! A huge concept!!!!

Our whole society was built on this concept!!!!

How was it ever lost?????

quote:

Originally posted by LHeym500:

quote:

Originally posted by JTEX:

quote:

I did voice my agreement and supported the concept that " public education" is for the good of the body or the majority, rather than the individual.

A very important concept!!!!! A huge concept!!!!

Our whole society was built on this concept!!!!

How was it ever lost?????

Most state Supreme Courts have held under state constitutions that the individual child has a right to be educated.

quote:

Originally posted by crbutler:
This from a lawyer!

I agree.

We do a lot for prevention of litigation in my job. It causes a bunch of waste and angst.

We are getting more and more extension of this into other areas of life. This is not good.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Mitchell:
I used to coach my kid's t-ball and coach pitch games and had a kid one year that was straight-up disturbed. He would tackle base runners instead of trying to field the ball and throw them out. Anytime he got a hit, he would chase the ball instead of running to first base. Finally, he attacked another one of the kids while we were in the dug-out. Pushed him off the bench into a chain link fence and started waling on him....for no apparent reason. I told the parents he was off the team but was subsequently contacted by the YMCA that ran the program and was told that I could not unilaterally make that decision. The process to get the kid off the team went on for weeks. It was ridiculous.

My sense of it is the organizations are worried about litigation.

Damn lawyers.

quote:

Originally posted by Jason P:
Jason:

I am sorry to hear. I am a teacher and my wife works in SPED. This school district would put up a fight
against an idiot like that (I’m referring to the Psychologist).

I guess my quest is why does your Superintendent not try to put a stop to this stupidity?