Stand up for your children!

**Mom23boys** · 01-23-2005, 05:20 PM

I had to call a conference with one of Chris' teacher's who is also his coach. Chris told me that he is calling the grades out loud for all the students, which is a no-no! It is here anyway. He won't let them come up and look at their grades, but he will announce them to the whole class. This can be embarrassing, which it was for Chris. He had a 91 or so he thought. When he announced Chris' average out loud it was a 54!!! Chris was shocked and so was I. ****A little info for those who don't know. Chris is learning delayed and has an IEP and modifications that all the teachers are suppose to be following.**** So, I started asking Chris questions about modifications. Does said coach/teacher modify your tests and work for you? I was informed that he did sometime, but not all the time.

I decided it was time to call a conference to see what was up. At this time I was not blaming the coach nor Chris. If it was Chris acting up in class I wanted to know so I could fix that problem! If it was the coach not doing his job correctly, I wanted to know that too.

I had the asst. principal, Chris and the coach in the meeting. I wanted them all there so that one couldn't say something about the other that was not true. The asst. principal was shocked that grades were being announced. He told the coach, "We can not do that." Also, when questioned about the modifications, he said he was in a hurry one day they took a test and he didn't have time. Well, excuse me, but he should have thought about that before hand. He knew Chris would be coming to his class. I work with special ed students all day long, I know how demanding they can be, but as educators we should follow the best plan for educating that child even if we are in a hurry. Chris has the class at the end of the day, so the teacher had all day to prepare. Needless to say, the principal agreed and informed the coach/teacher that he needed to follow the mods and gave him other suggestions as well.

I also told Chris he needs to ask for help if he needs it because the coach/teacher said he just sits there like he doesn't know what to do. DUH?? Chris knows he has to try harder and he needs to work with the coach/teacher too.

I think as parents we should all stand up for our children. If we don't, who will? I don't even think they would have corrected this matter if I had not asked for a conference because the administration didn't even have a clue it was going on until now.

**sherrykay** · 01-23-2005, 05:43 PM

Good for you!!! I stand up for my son too, although sometimes I think I make it worse on him when I complain to the teacher! Oh well it is hard to let teachers put your child down!!!!

**nodmicks** · 01-23-2005, 05:47 PM

Good for you!!!! My Ds is in 6th grade now. In 3rd grade I had to fight like heck because he had a mean rotten teacher who had no business teaching.

**Darlene** · 01-23-2005, 08:08 PM

Good for you Michelle! I like the way you did it too with all parties involved there. Your a good mother & a smart cookie.

**AmyBoz** · 01-23-2005, 08:33 PM

Excellent, Michelle! I can't believe that he was reading the grades aloud! I would never do that!!! That is unfathomable! I also can't believe he wasn't following the IEP! Aaargh...it's teachers like him that give the rest of us a bad name!

**Mom23boys** · 01-23-2005, 08:50 PM

Thank you Darlene! I try my best to stay involved.

I agree Amy! I can't believe he was not following the IEP either. He was actually in the ARD meeting at the beginning of the year, so he knew exactly what he was suppose to do. I just hope this has helped. I am also glad the asst. principal was on my side.

**nodmicks** · 01-24-2005, 09:31 AM

Another problem we had in 4th grade was with pelling tests. I practiced with him mon night through fri morning so I knew he knew them. He failed every test. I had a talk with the teacher and found out she had the kids testing each other. My poor guy was so nervous of seeming dumb that he bombed every time. I asked the teacher to please do it herself. The improvement was remarkable!!