More school woes.
Our transition to kinder this year has been far from smooth, and frankly, this just takes the cake for completely inappropriate behavior. I am insanely angry about something that was said to my mom by the principal one day during pick-up this week.
Sh.awn is having a hard time in kinder. He's been acting out and overwhelmed with what is happening at school. To be fair to him, he's had 4 aides over the last 12 days* (two days of which he missed because he was sick). Adding that to the whole new situation of school, and it is no wonder he is struggling.
Anyway, during pick-up, the principal walked over to my mom and told her that she had a former student who looks just like Sh.awn. She wanted to show my mom the boy's picture. My mom was trying to get my boys in a fairly chaotic hallway and sort of mumbled a reply. The principal left and came back with a picture of a boy who was maybe 10 or 11 years old who had Down's Syndrome. The principal then went on and on about how much the two looked alike. My mom felt the only resemblance the two had was maybe their dark hair.
The only conclusion I can come up with as a reason she would show my mom such a picture is if the principal feels Sh.awn is mentally disabled. While we may find learning disabilities, he is by no means mentally disabled. I am majorly upset and highly insulted that this principal would say something like this.
Our transition to kinder this year has been far from smooth, and frankly, this just takes the cake for completely inappropriate behavior. I am insanely angry about something that was said to my mom by the principal one day during pick-up this week.
Sh.awn is having a hard time in kinder. He's been acting out and overwhelmed with what is happening at school. To be fair to him, he's had 4 aides over the last 12 days* (two days of which he missed because he was sick). Adding that to the whole new situation of school, and it is no wonder he is struggling.
Anyway, during pick-up, the principal walked over to my mom and told her that she had a former student who looks just like Sh.awn. She wanted to show my mom the boy's picture. My mom was trying to get my boys in a fairly chaotic hallway and sort of mumbled a reply. The principal left and came back with a picture of a boy who was maybe 10 or 11 years old who had Down's Syndrome. The principal then went on and on about how much the two looked alike. My mom felt the only resemblance the two had was maybe their dark hair.
The only conclusion I can come up with as a reason she would show my mom such a picture is if the principal feels Sh.awn is mentally disabled. While we may find learning disabilities, he is by no means mentally disabled. I am majorly upset and highly insulted that this principal would say something like this.
I wrote her a letter because I think it is important that I let her know that this was by no means okay. Plus, I wanted documentation that the event occurred. It was hard, but I even think I succeeded in taking out most of the anger.
But still. Seriously? Why would anyone think something like that was okay to say or do?
Sigh. I just don't know what I am going to do about our school situation. It is bad and just doesn't seem to be getting better. The whole thing just makes me sick to my stomach.
*The school district had not hired an aide for Sh.awn until the first day of school. When school started, they had a temporary aide who was working with him and a few other kids at the same time for the first two or three days. The principal "helped" out with Sh.awn while that aide was with the other students. Then he was assigned a temporary full time aide. He was given a third aide who was ineffective. Now we have an aide who I assume will be here for the long haul. She's been with Shawn for three days. It has been a nightmare.
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3 comments:
I'm sorry Stacie. This all just seems so stressful. It sounds like the principle was comparing the two boys looks more than anything else, but why? It doesn't sound like she was comparing their actions, or mental state, but it still just doesn't make sense to single him out like that. At the same time, if she still has a picture of that other boy, he may have meant a lot to her, and maybe she sees Sha.wn becoming a special light to her as well. I have no idea. My heart just aches for him having to make these huge adjustments and for you having to watch him go through these struggles. I hope the school staff learns to communicate in a more positive way.
Wow, your school district is treading some very dangerous waters with their words and actions. Write everything down.
I just.....just.....what?!?!?!?! That is crazy, and offensive, and inappropriate! WHAT was she thinking?
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