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Comments:
yd - 2005-01-05 09:33:58 Well, at the risk of seeming schadenfreudy, I have to smile at that.* * * * * * * * * * * * Iss - 2005-01-05 15:04:36 If it was in the Lansing State Journal today you probably read yesterday about the man who died after being set on fire by his son, claiming they were arguing over whether kerosene is flammable..and then said twentysomething is quoted as saying, "Happy Birthday, now you're a candle". The sickness of that whole situation is flabbergasting. Even more and more these days I find myself wanting to teach my sons how to interact with kids/people who are out of control and **incessantly** angry.... I can think of 5 kids right now in three kindergartens who are so violent and lashing out that you really can't even be near them. And then going to stores and having angry people in the parking lots swerving around and gesticulating, etc. Is it just me or are more and more people getting nuttier and nuttier? * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-01-05 15:12:34 Good heavens. That's absolutely bizarre. Was the kid insane or was it a deliberate act? Tell me more about the kindergardeners, please, Iss. How do they act? And why do you think that is the case?--as a non-parent I don't have much understanding of stuff like that but would love to hear your opinion.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-01-05 21:31:41 Iss--might you have a link to that story? I looked all over the LSJ but didn't see it. Thank you.* * * * * * * * * * * * Iss - 2005-01-06 15:17:56 I thought it was an AP story....I'll look it up and send it to you. The first kid I am thinking about wears shorts to school every day and no coat b/c no one can get him into one...he has a full-time paraprofessional (i.e., babysitter) who follows him around, as whenever you direct him or touch him he screams and writhes on the ground. One day going home after lunch w/ Nic I saw him and his para walking through the adjoining neighborhood....the para carrying shoes and articles of clothing that the kid was flinging off......this is in a mainstream classroom. Why is that? Don't know. I suspect he doesn't qualify for special ed in some way. Likewise w/ the other kids.* * * * * * * * * * * * Iss - 2005-01-06 15:24:09 Just looked it up by googling "kerosene" and "setting father on fire"....lordy! Emailed you the LA Times story re: it, but for lack of technological savvy, couldn't clip-n-paste the link here. i'll leave that to the pros/older sis.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-01-06 15:27:17 Thanks for finding and emailing the link sweetie. I'll read it in a bit. Oh, I didn't formerly understand that the kids were special ed children, or special needs, or whatever the current euphemism is. Is the child with the para autistic? From what little I've read on the subject it sounds a bit like autism. I read one book about it that showed me how agonizingly hard autism can be on families. I thought you meant they were just bratty kids.* * * * * * * * * * * * Iss - 2005-01-06 21:56:00 No, what I meant is that regardless of their disabilities or autism or decreased attention spans or whatnot, these kids are placed into situations where yes, they are mainstreamed to some degree or all of the time, and I am absolutely all for that, but they are situations that may not be appropriate for them, and not necessarily safe for others. My school district *cannot* find enough paras for these kids...literally cannot fill the job postings, and so they continue to be in regular classrooms with a teacher-student ratio of 25 to 1 or higher, and they absolutely do not get the help that they need. So therefore you have the situation of this child swinging on the swings so violently that other kids could not swing next to him. Not fair to either kid. Another child in Nic's classroom does not qualify for a para but instead needs to be redirected by the teacher approximately every 6 minutes. Some days (Tuesdays) I'm in there for the whole day, and so I do know....she has to stop the lesson, tell him to stop poking the child next to him, stop spitting on the child in front of him, stop shoving his feet into the child next to him, face forward, listen, quiet down, then direct him to a time out, then explain to him his actions and consequences, then redirect him to the next activity and start all over. The rest of the kids have to sit quietly during these conversations. The parents of this child do not believe that he has a problem. One girl went home after getting punched in the mouth by him. One girl was in tears after getting mud all over herself when he pushed her into the ground, skinning her knees. He boxed Nic's ear once just walking past him in the halls. To me that is extreme violence and extreme misdirected anger. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-01-07 09:29:24 That's a problem all right. That child is creating a serious disruption. What ever happened to special ed programs and funds? Clearly these children need services they are *not* getting, and I have the impression that East Landing schools are among the best in Michigan. I have to say I see a connection here with the recent discussion on another thread about de-funding mental health in Michigan. I think it's terrific that you're giving your time to be in the class--I'm sure you're a HUGE help to this harried teacher. * * * * * * * * * * * * Iss - 2005-01-07 14:54:26 You're right that I was thinking about the whole mental health funding issue as I typed. I remember years ago (when I was much less informed) when Engler cut CMH and Public Aid. There was another name for it...I think, a sort of social security/disability subsidy. The cumulative effect of these cuts is seen in the catastrophic occurrences prev. mentioned, (candle, can't tell me that kid was sane or not without a sub.abuse problem)and in places like hospitals and ERs and shelters with people who have gone off/can't afford/no one to remind them to take their meds and then are on a rage and get admitted to the hospital, commit a crime, etc. Schools run in the red so much.....and East Lansing is a great school system...even our elementary is better off personnel-wise than others in the district. I wouldn't *not* be there if for nothing else than the sheer value of seeing w/ my own eyes what goes on. So's I can 'talk the talk'....and so it goes....* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-01-07 15:01:27 Sounds like you're describing a huge chain reaction. Interesting throughts.* * * * * * * * * * * * add your comment: |