A week or so ago, the Freshman had a special event at the school football game. My son is not at all into the sport, but because his friends were going, he wanted to go. (This a good thing, obviously. It also gave me and his dad a good few hours alone, for a "date night". Jack was at this event, and Savannah was in the event.
I dropped him off at the high school, but walked with him (or, well, separately but on the same path *rolls eyes*) to make sure he was able to find his friends amongst the crowd. One of the mothers there recognized me, and we chatted for a few moments. What I found out was literally jaw dropping. I'm still going "HUH?!"
When the kids registered for classes in the Spring, one of their options was for a Robotics course- "Intro", which should have been little-to-no issue, since the kids had pretty much all taken a version of this class for half of the previous school year. After the kids selected their classes, parents of kids on IEP's started to get a bit of a "freaking out" from the Intervention Specialists. I know during my IEP meeting in April, the I.S. told me that 1.) this class is generally only offered to the upperclassmen; 2.) there is no aide in the classroom, or one who will cross the street with them (as this is in an "outbuilding"); and 3.) "Are you really okay with your child crossing the street??"
Okay. First off, these kids are about 15 years old. Obviously not every child with Autism at this age is able to walk around town by themselves, but these are pretty much high-functioning kids. Second, why the heck would you give 9th graders an option to take a course that you traditionally only allow juniors and seniors to take? Third, after all of the previous points, why are you giving kids with an IEP the option to take it, if you're concerned about aides not being present? (There is also no set-up for kids who need to take a break for whatever reason).
When Jack had his official registration day at the high school, we went around and checked out where just about all of his regular classrooms would be- with the exception of this outbuilding. (Savannah told us it would be locked). We went back to the school the day before classes started, just so Jack could see which door of the main building he would be going in and out of, and making sure (with him being in the lead) that he felt fully comfortable crossing the street and getting himself into this building.. then up to the classroom. (Another parent told us that the building was in fact unlocked). We all went upstairs where we found the teacher for his class setting up the last of the room, for the school year. He wasn't very outgoing, but he was probably wondering why the heck we were there. I explained real briefly, told him Jack would be in his class during whichever period it was, and then we left.
At the Freshman Tailgate for the football game, this mom asked me if our kids had the same teacher. I said yes, and then she asked if I had heard about what this man said to her about her son. I was absolutely flabbergasted when she confided that he came up to her and said "I hope you don't think I'm going to coddle your son this year". WHA?!?
Okay, WTAF?! Had any teacher said that to me (and God help whomever may feel like saying that to me one day), I would have probably flipped the F out. (Not immediately. I would be too shocked. After I got home, I would be making an immediate phone call to pretty much everyone I could think of- the I.S., the Special Ed. department, the superintendent. You just don't say sh*t like that to a parent. School hadn't even begun yet. I bet you dollars to donuts, this dude had not read a single IEP for any incoming students. I also will say that he didn't even bother to reply to me- the only teacher this year who didn't. I think now I know why. If you've never met a particular child before, and you only knew they had Autism or whatever, that doesn't give you any reason to assume jack about that kid.
All I can say at this point is I'm glad I didn't give this guy too much information about Jack. I'm also hoping that Jack exceeds whatever expectations the teacher has about people with Autism. Jack's grades in his class have been excellent, so far. This doesn't surprise me, as this is like a dream class for many with ASD. Seems right up their alley. I dunno... maybe his comment to this mother (whose shoes I'm glad not to have been in at that particular moment) was based in fear of the unknown. He just heard "So-and-so has Autism", and his imagination ran wild. UGH.
I dropped him off at the high school, but walked with him (or, well, separately but on the same path *rolls eyes*) to make sure he was able to find his friends amongst the crowd. One of the mothers there recognized me, and we chatted for a few moments. What I found out was literally jaw dropping. I'm still going "HUH?!"
When the kids registered for classes in the Spring, one of their options was for a Robotics course- "Intro", which should have been little-to-no issue, since the kids had pretty much all taken a version of this class for half of the previous school year. After the kids selected their classes, parents of kids on IEP's started to get a bit of a "freaking out" from the Intervention Specialists. I know during my IEP meeting in April, the I.S. told me that 1.) this class is generally only offered to the upperclassmen; 2.) there is no aide in the classroom, or one who will cross the street with them (as this is in an "outbuilding"); and 3.) "Are you really okay with your child crossing the street??"
Okay. First off, these kids are about 15 years old. Obviously not every child with Autism at this age is able to walk around town by themselves, but these are pretty much high-functioning kids. Second, why the heck would you give 9th graders an option to take a course that you traditionally only allow juniors and seniors to take? Third, after all of the previous points, why are you giving kids with an IEP the option to take it, if you're concerned about aides not being present? (There is also no set-up for kids who need to take a break for whatever reason).
When Jack had his official registration day at the high school, we went around and checked out where just about all of his regular classrooms would be- with the exception of this outbuilding. (Savannah told us it would be locked). We went back to the school the day before classes started, just so Jack could see which door of the main building he would be going in and out of, and making sure (with him being in the lead) that he felt fully comfortable crossing the street and getting himself into this building.. then up to the classroom. (Another parent told us that the building was in fact unlocked). We all went upstairs where we found the teacher for his class setting up the last of the room, for the school year. He wasn't very outgoing, but he was probably wondering why the heck we were there. I explained real briefly, told him Jack would be in his class during whichever period it was, and then we left.
At the Freshman Tailgate for the football game, this mom asked me if our kids had the same teacher. I said yes, and then she asked if I had heard about what this man said to her about her son. I was absolutely flabbergasted when she confided that he came up to her and said "I hope you don't think I'm going to coddle your son this year". WHA?!?
Okay, WTAF?! Had any teacher said that to me (and God help whomever may feel like saying that to me one day), I would have probably flipped the F out. (Not immediately. I would be too shocked. After I got home, I would be making an immediate phone call to pretty much everyone I could think of- the I.S., the Special Ed. department, the superintendent. You just don't say sh*t like that to a parent. School hadn't even begun yet. I bet you dollars to donuts, this dude had not read a single IEP for any incoming students. I also will say that he didn't even bother to reply to me- the only teacher this year who didn't. I think now I know why. If you've never met a particular child before, and you only knew they had Autism or whatever, that doesn't give you any reason to assume jack about that kid.
All I can say at this point is I'm glad I didn't give this guy too much information about Jack. I'm also hoping that Jack exceeds whatever expectations the teacher has about people with Autism. Jack's grades in his class have been excellent, so far. This doesn't surprise me, as this is like a dream class for many with ASD. Seems right up their alley. I dunno... maybe his comment to this mother (whose shoes I'm glad not to have been in at that particular moment) was based in fear of the unknown. He just heard "So-and-so has Autism", and his imagination ran wild. UGH.
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