Note in my son's school communication book:
B has become increasingly violent in class. He is attacking the E.A's.
Second hand information:
"School called B bit one child on the head and another on the neck"
Prepare my questions, call school:
Me: What happened?
Teach: I don't know I wasn't there, the supply teacher said B attacked her and an EA(grabbed one's wrist hard; another hands around neck)
Me
trying to sound serious)Why do they think he did this?
Teach: Well they were serving the other kids hamburger and he wasn't allowed to have any. They think he may have been upset about that.
He also seems to get angry when you say "NO, don't do that"
Me:If you were a kid and you saw that everyone else was getting something that you wanted and you weren't allowed to have it wouldn't you be a little angry. B doesn't like it when you say "NO", he takes great pride in achieving things maybe if you say "Do this..." ie give him an out and alternative
Teach: But we say no to all our children
Me: B is the only autistic child in your classroom, he thrives on positive comments
Well you get the idea .....talk lasted about 40 minutes, hopefully they'll make some changes....B stayed home today....everyone needs a break from school :twisted:
TC
What is an EA? Why wasn't he allowed hamburger? Is it a regular or special class?
I think its good that you phoned and talked to them. In my experience it can turn to blaming the parent when things go wrong in school, so its better to communicate with them if possible.
An EA is an educational assistant
It was one of those food days where you pay for the food before hand - don't recall getting the notice - so no pay.. no hamburger
Yes he's in a special class with a teacher with lots of experience with special needs kids but none with autism!
Needless to say the conversation went well, but I'll have to see if their words match their actions :wink:
"It was one of those food days where you pay for the food before hand - don't recall getting the notice - so no pay.. no hamburger"
That is so harsh, no wonder the poor kid was upset. What a silly system to have in a school.
It is a catholic school and they have food days usually "pizza day" in the guise of raising badly needed funds. I don't like this practice as it is unfair to children with allergies, children on special diets and families that cannot afford a "cash grab" every month or so. Especially from a school that said they were "very nutritionally oriented" - I guess that explains the soda and candy bar vending machines in the hallway :roll: . I don't have my son on a "special" diet yet(?) but he does have weight and bowel concerns, so having these food days is a real thorn in the side, I try to balance things by giving him the healthiest foods possible.
I hate those school fund raising schemes that are pushed on parents.
At my daughter's school they had a book sale, which sounds good, but they told all the kids to pick the book that they wanted and tell their parents to buy it for them. Talk about pushy!
My daughter was then in tears when I didn't want to buy the dreadful Barbie picture book that she had picked. There was no value in it at all, just one giant Barbie ad. And she has a room full of books anyway (ok the whole house is full of books :wink: )
I have books that haven't even been opened yet.....they make really good dust collectors though :grin:
Another "incident" at school - an EA was telling my boy not to put so much food in his mouth. I don't know what was said before, but can imagine a barrage of unwanted advice such as ..."do this" "do that" "no no"(they love that word). For petes sake can't they at least leave him alone when he eats...does every f***ing thing have to be a teaching experience. Even animals don't like to be bothered when eating, ever try to pet/bother a pet while it's hungry?.. usually don't take to kindly on the intrusion. Now saying could you possibly keep B home when we go on a trip to the Special Olympics....why don't I just homeschool him apparently he's not learning anything there?
99% of teachers are so lame!
My son used to get the same thing when they had trips sometimes, or even the evil trick of an exclusion just before they had a trip coming up, so obvious. :roll:
Also the same with the eating thing, I wrote them note after note saying that he should not be forced to eat what he didn't like as he has strong food phobias.
They did try to take control of lunchtime even though it is not part of the school curriculum.
The last straw was a very distressing incident where he was force fed and vomited. I made an official complaint and after weeks of 'investigation' they did absolutely nothing. :cry:
He is now in a different school, after being permanently excluded from that one a few months later.
I noticed that you live in Toronto. Homeschooling is allowed in Ontario. Here is the government website for more information.
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/131.html
Lots of forms need to be filled out for homeschooling. You should get in contact with some homeschooling assocations (there are quite a few in Toronto). They organize "events for opportunities for students to socialize" which might or might not be helpful for your situation. Anyway someone might help you with paperwork and were to find text books and supplies and other advice. You might even find some other parents with autistic or Asperger kids.
Home schoolers are not all alike. Some are very religious, others non-conformists and some homeschool because they think their kids will get a better education that way.
Thank you Amy and M
I'll keep the link in mind, as homeschooling seems to becoming more and more a possibility. It looks like a lot of forms and nonsense to go through. I was educated through the public school system and both my children through the Catholic system and I don't see much difference in content. Not impressed with either. Must say I'd do things alot different and try to teach useful information and coping skills, is there not a good school in all of Canada that you don't have to mortgage the house to enter.
Really, what did we learn in school?.....how to survive??