[Erin]

right2fight,

I was at one point a 7 year old with diabetes, and then later a 7th grader with diabetes, and am currently a 1st grade ctt (collaborative team teaching) general education teacher. I work closely with my special ed partner, and 8 special education and 15 general education students daily.

I OFTEN ask students to speak to me privately regarding their questions about other children's disabilities. The teacher may have been advocating for your son. I obviously do not go into depth about the other child's problem, but I do tell the student "different people need different things to help them learn best... how do you think _______ feels hearing you ask that? Do you feel like he might think you were making fun of him?"

I understand how it must have felt to your son... but think about this from his teacher's perspective. She was trying to get the spotlight OFF of your son when others were questioning his needs publicly. He had NO way of knowing what she would have said after class. THEN he starts standing up for himself (I assume loudly, and again publicly?) and you fault her for feeling backed up to a wall??? All she was trying to do was get the class to STOP talking about your son, and START doing the classwork that they all needed to do.

Then instead of having an honest discussion about what happened with her and your son, and figuring it all out, you went directly to the DOJ... not even the Principal of the school?

And you wonder why she's on the defensive, and may be acting in a retaliatory way towards your son? Teachers are PEOPLE, and they make mistakes even when they are trying in every way possible to act in the best interest of their students.

[Erin]

And.... completely unrelated.

Look into getting your son typing lessons. I've experienced older children with OT issues can often type much more easily than they can write. This will enable him to complete more classwork, and ^ his marketability once he's old enough for a job.

[samsmom]

Very well stated..not everything needs to be so much drama. Even though past expierences may sour you towards the school system does not mean that every action by the school is wrong. I also know that tone of voice by a child can weigh heavily into a situation. With only your son's word and the teacher's word on how things were spoken, you are stuck between a rock and hard place on who to believe.

[right2fight]

Hi Erin, I was surprised to find a response this morning to this old thread, thanks for your thoughts.

The teacher is a wonderful person and we both understand at times the teacher must make decisions on the spot and there not always correct. Teachers are human and make mistakes, we all do.

Your assumption that I went directly to the DOJ because of this incident is wrong. One does not "knee jerk" to the DOJ. You must work your way up the chain of command. It has taken 6 agonizing years, enduring violation upon violation to get there.

Hence, my son speaking up loudly for himself, the result of the constant violations since the very tender age of 7, while attending school having not only to tend to his own diabetic needs but putting up with the ignorance and the failure to provide "due care" as prescribed by law. For example: school nurse treated a BS of 48 with a diet soda, injected him with insulin at 8:30 am not pursuant to doctors orders and told my then 8 year old son he would have his leg amputated. In other words just trying to stay alive!

The teacher, as I said is great! At her request I will be chaperoning a 16 hour field trip on the 22nd. I can't wait.

Erin, it takes a special person to be an ESE teacher, keep up the great work!

Margaret

[Erin]

Sorry, It seemed from your post that you were going to the DOJ because of this incident.

I remember similar problems with school nurses when I was a kid.... I just dealt with low bgs on my own... but that was back in the dark ages, before kids really needed to take insulin in school (NPH had that "wonderful" peak that covered lunch).

I think things will work out for you and your son... good luck.

[right2fight]

Thanks Erinn, I too think all will be fine. The process has certainly taken its toll on us, yet the care for children with diabetes in the local school district is so much better and I am believe firmly that persistence always pays off.

Margaret