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Originally Posted by chattiesmom  I am NOT a teacher, but worked as a paraprofessional for 13 years. I also had a problem with the Senior High School that my oldest son attended. Due tot he nature of the problem and the Nastiness of the Principal and staff we sued in FEDERAL COURT and won the case.
A few thoughts.....
1) Your son's best interests are of utmost importance, pardon my french, but screw the school.....
2) If your son as an IEP then they are in a sh*tpot full of trouble if you push the issue
3) I would request another meeting, and RECORD it and/or ask for a copy of the recording from the previous meetings - if the school recorded them.
4) If it won't embarass your son, visit the class - you have parental rights.
5) Be sure to document EVERYTHING!
Good luck - my heart breaks for both your son and for YOU! Please update us - I am very concerned for your son. |
I too worked as a paraprofessional, not as long as Chattiesmom (by the way...you have my respect for sticking with it as long as you did) and from what I saw, I NEVER want to be a teacher. Not all schools are the same and I think I was stuck in one of the worst schools. I saw good teachers being treated poorly, and students being called all sorts of things! Especially, by the main office staff. Lets just say, I didn't last long as their employee. If you wanted to hear the meanest, most rude comments being said to elementary school students, walk into the main office or go out to the yard, either way be the fly on the wall they'll quickly forget you're there and they'll be themselves. Just awful!!!
Back to your son, first of to the OP I have to say CONGRATS!!! You're son is scoring in the 98th percentile, I hope you let him know how proud you are of him, I am too!
As for your son and his tenure teacher, if his teacher was anything like the tenure teachers I had in highschool for math or the one I had for history... my sympathies. They pretty much ran the joint as they were head of their respective departments. No one, and I mean NO ONE could tell them what to do. Sometimes when a teacher reaches tenure, they forget why they began teaching in the first place. All they see is the job security tenure offers, which makes some feel like they can do no wrong now. It's sad but these teachers with a stick up there a#$ are there and make students lives miserable. (now everyone think back to their high school or jr high days...
)
Bottom line, you're son is doing AMAZING keep encouraging him, and if his teacher is more than he can handle, do whatever you think is best. Either take him out of that situation or fight to get the board on your side. Don't blame the principle, especially if he's new. 4 weeks are not enough in my opinion for a new principle to become acclimated to their school, new staff, teachers, and get to know students especially if the student isn't constantly being sent to his office.
Whatever you decide please continue to encourage him. He is doing Algebra in the seventh grade when most of the high school students I knew were in remedial algebra. Some of the ones I tutor (11th graders) just roll their eyes at the idea of math. If you're son can increase his overall average up to an 83 that tells you he's working hard and can handle the work.
Sorry if my post is more of a babble than a response, but I think education is important and sometimes teachers forget they have a hand in molding our future generations.