Re: Middle School...what is your take on this?

[Guest guest]

I am very keen on academics for my Tim (as oppossed to vals or cindys tim!), as

has been said I can do the life skills

stuff at home, and that remains true even now. But we have hit a problem with

tim, which may or may not be problem

that other vertically challenged children face. Tim simply cannot keep up

physically. By the middle of the afternoon

he is absolutely knackered and is fit for nothing, he falls asleep or becomes

bolshy, either way he doesn't learn

anything in that last session and often the last half of the first afternoon

session is the same. So at least half and

often more of the afternoon stuff is lost to him. Mornings are exclusively for

numeracy and literacy, everything else

is in the pm. So I have agreed to a compromise, a kind of unofficial and not

strickly enforced life skills programme.

If he is awake, aware and not bolshy he stays in the class, but if he is about

to fall asleep, totally lost by the

content or getting bolshy then he will do something different, anything from

running messages (developes memory and

independance) to going to the supermarket, to finding the local library or even

just doing some PE outside. I don't

want him to do this, I want him to stay in class and learn, but he isn't

learning and its not a fault of the school but

simply becoz he is so small he cannot manage what the other kids do, he gets

tired having to fit into an enviroment and

school day built and maintained for 7-11 year olds when he has the body of a 3-4

year old. And sadly this problem

isn't going to go away, as he developes greater stamina the demands on him

increase. So I am accepting 'life skills'

becoz at least he will be learning something, even if it isn't strickly

academic. And to be fair it isn't a set

programme like many schools offer in the states, but a relief for a tired child.

sue wong

Val Surbey wrote:

> This makes me think of the initial meeting I had with Tim's middle school at

> the beginning of transitional planning for him.

>

> They were very proud of their lifeskills program and handed me a list of

> things that Tim would be able to do. It amounted to 30% of his school time

> out of the classroom for each six day cycle. I said no way. The only

> things he leaves the room for, are special gym (he has a leg brace right now

> to straighten the foot) and his bike is there which he rides three or four

> times a week in the school.

>

> His classmates take turns at working the canteen during lunch. They only do

> this once in a cycle, so that's ok, because it's a variety of kids.

>

> They have swim program once a week and I said no to that. He takes swim

> lessons and is way ahead of his peers in his levels and doesn't need another

> swim program. This has caused some problems and every chance they get, they

> tell me that " he wasn't in the swim program so yada, yada, yada. " I smile

> and say no, he isn't and won't be in it either.

>

> He's there to do school work like the other kids.....they teach him

> academics, I teach him lifeskills.

>

> Val in Winnipeg

[Guest guest]

I agree. The kids that I taught and took to these kinds of events (out of

school) were kids with severe disabilities--MR, physical and behavior

issues, too. I did have a couple of kids in my class with DS. In my

opinion, if we had more opportunities in our county and if " inclusion " had

been a more accepted/pushed for way of providing services to these kids they

would not have been in my class. I do not envision Mac in a class like I

taught. However, I do think the MH (multi-handicapped) classroom is a very

appropriate environment for a lot of kids with severe and/or multiple

disabilities.

Jill

Re: Middle School...what is your take on this?

> BTW My frame of reference here is severe and profound, autistic,

> severely emotionally disturbed (who can be a danger to themselves and

> others)--ie the kids for whom least restrictive environment is mostly

> self-contained.

> Bev

>

> WEBMOM wrote:

>

> > Re the basketball game: I kind of like the idea--if it's done properly.

> > The teacher should work with the coach to make sure the players are

> > prepped for their roles. They should be told that they are signing

> > their autographs as a service project for other students to teach them

> > the kind of things that go on a big league games. They should also be

> > taught how to interact with people who have disabilities, and hold

> > short conversations with the students from SpEd as they sign autographs

> > for them.

> > Done the right way, this could be a real benefit to the players, too.

> > Bev

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

This is so true--not with all, but with many teachers. I started a new job

this year and have yet to see the lounge for lunch!! Too busy preparing for

the next class or tutoring a student through my lunch. I do hope to make it

to the lounge for lunch before the end of the year, though!!

Jill

They may be better

> teachers because they spend these few minutes away from their students.

> (And I do mean few minutes--by the time they take care of other

> professional obligations, many of our teachers can only spend 12-15

> minutes in the " lounge " at lunch time!)

[Guest guest]

,

I read it twice and i dont know what youre asking? Is it that the teacher

took her class to an outing? I really dont see anything wrong with this.

Can you re phrase it, since amanda is going to middle school and i want to

know if there is something there im missing and i need to be aware of.

Thanks,

~ Mom to 11 DS and 7 NY

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/2/02 5:32:40 PM Central Standard Time,

cindysue@... writes:

> Also, there was a middle school student with DS and his mom accompanied him.

> We got to talking about all sorts of inclusion issues. She said this

> field trip was good since it was after school, but the school continues to

> push for trips during school hours. She wants her son to get his academics

> (sound familiar, huh?). I told her I agreed 100%, I think that it's a

> parents job to take their kids to Mcs, the store, etc., and teach

> them life skills...just like we taught our other children. I invited her

> to join us and hopefully she will. Her son attends the same middle school

> that will one day attend.

>

>

>

I would say if they are taking the other students on field trips too,

then it's OK. 's classes went on occasional trips during school

hours, several times to a children's theater, to a museum, to a wildlife

center, things like that. But ALL the kids went, these weren't special

classes just filling in time. I think that's what makes the difference. And

they were educational things. Occasionally they would have an outing at a

park, and usually couldn't remember which park they went to so I

would ask " Did Philip fall in the lake? " If he did, that was Loose Park, if

not it was another one. Philip didn't have very good balance and frequently

fell in.

But if field trips are just an excuse not to teach, then that's out!!!!

Jessie

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/2/02 9:38:26 PM Central Standard Time, huie@...

writes:

> That is a situation here in our new area. I

> talked with 's sped teacher at length. She said if she didn't take

> them to the public library (in addition to the one at the school), or to

> restaurants, or to the mall at Christmas to see Santa, that not one student

> of hers (except for , she goes everywhere) would get to do any of these

> things. I think that is very sad.

> Sharon

> Mom to (10, DS) and (6)

>

It sure is sad and it could very well be true. Hard to imagine, isn't

it? Jessie

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/2/02 7:29:29 PM Pacific Standard Time, JB66111@...

writes:

>

> I would say if they are taking the other students on field trips

> too,

> then it's OK. 's classes went on occasional trips during school

> hours, several times to a children's theater, to a museum, to a wildlife

> center, things like that. But ALL the kids went, these weren't special

> classes just filling in time. I think that's what makes the difference.

> And

> they were educational things. Occasionally they would have an outing at a

> park, and usually couldn't remember which park they went to so I

> would ask " Did Philip fall in the lake? " If he did, that was Loose Park,

> if

> not it was another one. Philip didn't have very good balance and

> frequently

> fell in.

> But if field trips are just an excuse not to teach, then that's out!!!!

> Jessie

>

>

goes on school field trips with the reg. ed. classes and I expect that

to continue into middle school. We have a meeting coming up to discuss where

he is going next year. I wish it was home school but I have numerous reasons

for avoiding it. Anyway, the classroom where he will have his pull-out has

" household " and " vocational " stuff in it. won't be doing that. He will

be in there to do the academics that he can't do in a reg. ed. classroom. He

also, I haven't informed them of this yet, won't be going on the several

times a week community activities that they do now. One is swimming in a

therapy pool at another school, needed by some of the kids for PT reasons-not

by . Another is going to the grocery store and getting items for Friday

cooking- going to the grocery store with a group of other students is

just a recipe for disaster, we do it on a reg. basis and he is learning.

Cooking on Friday, how many times in his life do you think he will need to

know how to cook as a member of a group? Not many, I'll stick to working on

meals at home and snacks for himself. Now, if they want to include him in

this as a reinforcement for working hard all week I could go with that.

As far as the autographs, how many other kids were standing there asking for

autographs? I'd bet 0 so my vote is that it is inappropriate.

Karyn

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/2/02 7:38:37 PM Pacific Standard Time, huie@...

writes:

> That is a situation here in our new area. I

> talked with 's sped teacher at length. She said if she didn't take

> them to the public library (in addition to the one at the school), or to

> restaurants, or to the mall at Christmas to see Santa, that not one student

> of hers (except for , she goes everywhere) would get to do any of

> these

> things. I think that is very sad.

> Sharon

> Mom to (10, DS) and (6)

>

>

Ok, there are reg. ed. kids whose parents don't take them to many places

other than the grocery store or to run errands. Does that mean that the reg.

ed. teachers should be doing these field trips also?

Then I can agree with this teacher's thinking but because parents don't do it

shouldn't mean it is educationally important.

Karyn

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/2/2002 9:09:43 PM Central Standard Time,

linman42@... writes:

> I read it twice and i dont know what youre asking? Is it that the teacher

> took her class to an outing? I really dont see anything wrong with this.

> Can you re phrase it, since amanda is going to middle school and i want to

> know if there is something there im missing and i need to be aware of.

>

> Thanks,

>

> ~ Mom to 11 DS and 7 NY

Heehee I think she wants our take on kids with disabilities asking for

autographs...from their peers at that (big sigh) ......well I guess you got

my take on it

Kathy mom to Sara 10...who would never ask for autographs in this way but

shed be happy to sign any lol

[Guest guest]

OK, the teacher in me responding to this one.

I have taken my class to Mcdonalds because we went there for a tour of the

kitchen and it was for community involvement. My school is right near a hugh

park. we go there 2x a year and you would be surprised how many of our kids

have never been there! Its right in their neighborhood. I used to take my

kids to the mall when i had 1st grade to see Santa and so many of them have

never been there before. we also go to the library. Another place no one

takes them to.

My daughter went ice skating with her class the other day. they had a great

time. They also went to see Harry Potter. I dont think that was in the

curriculum. so is there room for field trips for fun??? certainly it

enhances socialization and I dont think there is anything wrong with that.

Also, when i take my class to the park, I get to see them as different

people, outside the classroom and that is very helpful as a teacher. We

usually go to the movies one time also at the end of the year.

I do educational trips as well - museums, etc. i try to take them to some

childrens shows (theater) because they dont ever do that either. And that is

a very useful experience.

~ Mom to 11 DS and 7 NY

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/2/02 10:36:29 PM Central Standard Time,

b4alltoday@... writes:

> Kathy mom to Sara 10...who would never ask for autographs in this way but

> shed be happy to sign any lol

>

> Yes, I'll bet she would. I can just see it. When was in the

> United Way Video year before last several people asked for his autograph,

> just for fun. He got a kick out of that. They still call him their " movie

> star " at the library.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/2/02 10:40:49 PM Central Standard Time, linman42@...

writes:

> Also, when i take my class to the park, I get to see them as different

> people, outside the classroom and that is very helpful as a teacher. We

> usually go to the movies one time also at the end of the year.

>

That is a very good point. You reminded me of one of 's

teachers saying that. She said a child they didn't know fell going down the

slide or something, can't remember exactly now, I hadn't thought of it in

years. But anyway, ran over to him/her and helped him up and dried

his tears, made sure he was all right. This was typical but she had

never seen that side of him before. And that can be a good thing too. I

think this kind of field trip can be good, but when it's just sped kids to

fill time, that's something else. Jessie

[Guest guest]

I think the kids getting to go to the game was fine.

I think you were asking about the autographs from the ball players. Do I

understand correctly that this is a middle or high school game. If so, the

autograph thing is rather ridiculous. I could understand if this were a

professional game, maybe a college game, but I don't think it was the best

idea for middle or high school. I probably won't say this correctly, but it

starts an uneven playing field and starts giving some students that are

probably very impressionable the idea that the other students are somehow

better than they are. Maybe my imagination is running a little rampant, but

I can think of all sorts of negative things that could come from that.

I also agree about the field trips, educational ones with some fun thrown in

I don't mind. But I firmly believe that it is the parents job to do the

Mcs, the mall, etc.. That is a situation here in our new area. I

talked with 's sped teacher at length. She said if she didn't take

them to the public library (in addition to the one at the school), or to

restaurants, or to the mall at Christmas to see Santa, that not one student

of hers (except for , she goes everywhere) would get to do any of these

things. I think that is very sad.

Sharon

Mom to (10, DS) and (6)

Middle School...what is your take on this?

> Last night, and I went to Katey's game. While there, the middle

school Sped teacher walked in with her students. One of her old students

also came (..a friend of Katey's). definately was asserting

her independence by being the last one to walk in, then scanning the crowd

to find a familiar face ('s). They both greeted each other and she

sat next to him. The Sped teacher than came back to find her and she

moved..still not with " her group " ...lol. She sat with other freshman

students and soon followed and sat next to her.

>

> After the game, the Sped teacher had her students ask for autographs from

the ball players as they were leaving the gym. They had made their own

autograph books. What is your alls take on this?

>

> Also, there was a middle school student with DS and his mom accompanied

him. We got to talking about all sorts of inclusion issues. She said this

field trip was good since it was after school, but the school continues to

push for trips during school hours. She wants her son to get his academics

(sound familiar, huh?). I told her I agreed 100%, I think that it's a

parents job to take their kids to Mcs, the store, etc., and teach them

life skills...just like we taught our other children. I invited her to join

us and hopefully she will. Her son attends the same middle school that

will one day attend.

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

This is what I am finding to be SO true in my new job this year. I now work

with " higher functioning " kids--kids with developmental handicaps (DH) and

learning disabilities (LD). This has been the hardest teaching year of my

life--teaching/working with the MH kids was a piece of cake compared to

these kids. The biggest handicap I'm finding is not the kids developmental

delay or learning disability but their attitudes and total lack of effort.

The sad part is that most of them have learned this from home. I,too, don't

think this applies to ANYONE on this list, but it's a sad truth in many

schools. And I " m in a very small school district (745 kids TOTAL

K-12th)...I can only imagine what it's like in a large inner city school.

Many of my students (7 out of 13) come from families where education is not

valued--in these homes one or both parents did not get a high school

education and therefore some of the kids are now working on academic tasks

that the parents have never even seen. This has made sending home homework

almost impossible because no one is at home who can help them. Even if they

could, I doubt that they would. My students are often failing because they

turn in less than 50% of their work. Often when I'm working with them they

will refuse to work, they make a deliberate choice NOT to do the work. I

never imagined I'd see this when I took this job. It has been so

frustrating and I've been wracking my brain night after night to come up

with something to motivate them, put a spark in them... The funny thing is

the elementary principal told me she thought they were all doing so much

better than they were last year and congratulated me on doing so well with

them! Ha!! I had one girl last week who needed to finish a Science test.

I was available to help her and she wanted to cover her book first. Well,

after 15 minutes she still didn't have the book covered and I told her to

quit covering the book and get the test finished. She refused...saying she

needed to get the book covered because if she didn't have it covered she'd

get a detention. I said well if you don't finish the test, you'll get an F.

She said that's okay, if I get a detention my parents will get mad and I " ll

be grounded. I asked what happens if you get an F, she said nothing happens

if I get an F. Who's to argue with that logic??? GRRRRR. Enough of my

grumblings....

Jill

My complaint

> probably does not apply to anyone on this list. I'm just saying that

> there are some families who don't teach education or appropriate

> behavior in an academic environment as part of their " family values " ,

> and it can be difficult to almost impossible for teachers to get through

> to these kids.

[Guest guest]

Yeah, some of the things I hear I know to take with a grain of salt...but

some of it I truly believe and see as a reflection of the values instilled

at home.

That Sara is a character, too!! I hope I get to meet her someday!!

----- >

>

> HI Jill

>

> Heehee be careful listening to kids lololol Sara told her teacher once she

> was quitting school and " my Mom said it was OK " who knows what else she's

> told her teachers, but the last gave them a big laugh

>

> Kathy mom to Sara 10

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

What I think means is that this is NOT inclusive education. It is

exceedingly segregated. It's like being alone in a big crowd which is how

it is for kids with disabilities all the time. My son is so very

extroverted (like mom) and we encourage interaction with typical peers and

discourage that kind of segregated outing.

Elaine

Re: Middle School...what is your take on this?

> ,

> I read it twice and i dont know what youre asking? Is it that the teacher

> took her class to an outing? I really dont see anything wrong with this.

> Can you re phrase it, since amanda is going to middle school and i want to

> know if there is something there im missing and i need to be aware of.

>

> Thanks,

>

> ~ Mom to 11 DS and 7 NY

>

>

> Click reply to all for messages to go to the list. Just hit reply for

messages to go to the sender of the message.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Ok, there are reg. ed. kids whose parents don't take them to many places other

than the grocery store or to run errands. Does that mean that the reg. ed.

teachers should be doing these field trips also?

Then I can agree with this teacher's thinking but because parents don't do it

shouldn't mean it is educationally important.

Karyn

I agree Karyn.

Re: Middle School...what is your take on this?

In a message dated 2/2/02 7:38:37 PM Pacific Standard Time, huie@...

writes:

That is a situation here in our new area. I

talked with 's sped teacher at length. She said if she didn't take

them to the public library (in addition to the one at the school), or to

restaurants, or to the mall at Christmas to see Santa, that not one student

of hers (except for , she goes everywhere) would get to do any of these

things. I think that is very sad.

Sharon

Mom to (10, DS) and (6)

[Guest guest]

,

You've hit a sore spot with me. Part of what is pointing out and what

many professionals allude to is that kids like ours need these community

outings because their parents are neglectful in this area. I hate being

stereotyped as a parent just as much as I hate people stereotyping my kid. I

think that is what some are finding objectionable about the type of community

outings that are planned. Another thing I hate is the age inappropriateness

some of these field trips have. I don't know about your trips or students,

but some of the ones I have seen have young adults participating in

activities that are not age appropriate.

BTW, we had a sped teacher here that makes her students bring thank you gifts

to give to the regular ed students when they are allowed to ride on the same

bus to a field trip to the same location. What do you guys think of that?

Cheryl in VA

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/3/2002 1:22:05 AM Eastern Standard Time, JB66111@...

writes:

> > Also, when i take my class to the park, I get to see them as different

> > people, outside the classroom and that is very helpful as a teacher. We

> > usually go to the movies one time also at the end of the year.

>

I encouraged elementary school teachers to eat lunch one day a week with

their students and communicate with them in a relaxed manner during a " free "

time in school. I always did when my kids were in school and I was amazed at

what the other kids told me about what was going on in their lives at the

time!!

Unfortunately, they are unwilling to give up their time in the teachers

lounge.

Cheryl in VA

[Guest guest]

This makes me think of the initial meeting I had with Tim's middle school at

the beginning of transitional planning for him.

They were very proud of their lifeskills program and handed me a list of

things that Tim would be able to do. It amounted to 30% of his school time

out of the classroom for each six day cycle. I said no way. The only

things he leaves the room for, are special gym (he has a leg brace right now

to straighten the foot) and his bike is there which he rides three or four

times a week in the school.

His classmates take turns at working the canteen during lunch. They only do

this once in a cycle, so that's ok, because it's a variety of kids.

They have swim program once a week and I said no to that. He takes swim

lessons and is way ahead of his peers in his levels and doesn't need another

swim program. This has caused some problems and every chance they get, they

tell me that " he wasn't in the swim program so yada, yada, yada. " I smile

and say no, he isn't and won't be in it either.

He's there to do school work like the other kids.....they teach him

academics, I teach him lifeskills.

Val in Winnipeg

Re: Middle School...what is your take on this?

> In a message dated 2/2/02 5:32:40 PM Central Standard Time,

> cindysue@... writes:

>

>

> > Also, there was a middle school student with DS and his mom accompanied

him.

> > We got to talking about all sorts of inclusion issues. She said this

> > field trip was good since it was after school, but the school continues

to

> > push for trips during school hours. She wants her son to get his

academics

> > (sound familiar, huh?). I told her I agreed 100%, I think that it's a

> > parents job to take their kids to Mcs, the store, etc., and teach

> > them life skills...just like we taught our other children. I invited

her

> > to join us and hopefully she will. Her son attends the same middle

school

> > that will one day attend.

> >

> >

> >

> I would say if they are taking the other students on field trips

too,

> then it's OK. 's classes went on occasional trips during school

> hours, several times to a children's theater, to a museum, to a wildlife

> center, things like that. But ALL the kids went, these weren't special

> classes just filling in time. I think that's what makes the difference.

And

> they were educational things. Occasionally they would have an outing at a

> park, and usually couldn't remember which park they went to so I

> would ask " Did Philip fall in the lake? " If he did, that was Loose Park,

if

> not it was another one. Philip didn't have very good balance and

frequently

> fell in.

> But if field trips are just an excuse not to teach, then that's out!!!!

> Jessie

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

That one got me too, Bev. I have never been in a school (and I've done

countless observations) where I've seen teachers hanging out in a teacher's

lounge. Every teacher I have met has not one spare minute in their day.

Show me a job where a person gets not only one or two 15 minute breaks in

their day in addition to the 30-60 minute lunch hour. This is non-existent

for teachers for teachers in my neck of the woods!

Jackie, Mom to 14ds, 11, and Bradley 8

[Guest guest]

Hi : I sort of came through the back door on this one. If the sped.

teacher had just her students, all with special needs there, then it's

exclusion. I always maintain that Tim is not to be excluded in an inclusive

environment. To me, what she has done is exclusion. I certainly don't

disagree with field trips as others have stated, but I don't agree with

" special " field trips for kids with special needs.

Val

Middle School...what is your take on this?

> Last night, and I went to Katey's game. While there, the middle

school Sped teacher walked in with her students. One of her old students

also came (..a friend of Katey's). definately was asserting

her independence by being the last one to walk in, then scanning the crowd

to find a familiar face ('s). They both greeted each other and she

sat next to him. The Sped teacher than came back to find her and she

moved..still not with " her group " ...lol. She sat with other freshman

students and soon followed and sat next to her.

>

> After the game, the Sped teacher had her students ask for autographs from

the ball players as they were leaving the gym. They had made their own

autograph books. What is your alls take on this?

>

> Also, there was a middle school student with DS and his mom accompanied

him. We got to talking about all sorts of inclusion issues. She said this

field trip was good since it was after school, but the school continues to

push for trips during school hours. She wants her son to get his academics

(sound familiar, huh?). I told her I agreed 100%, I think that it's a

parents job to take their kids to Mcs, the store, etc., and teach them

life skills...just like we taught our other children. I invited her to join

us and hopefully she will. Her son attends the same middle school that

will one day attend.

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/3/2002 11:13:47 AM Central Standard Time,

jbocci55@... writes:

> That one got me too, Bev. I have never been in a school (and I've done

> countless observations) where I've seen teachers hanging out in a teacher's

> lounge. Every teacher I have met has not one spare minute in their day.

> Show me a job where a person gets not only one or two 15 minute breaks in

> their day in addition to the 30-60 minute lunch hour. This is non-existent

> for teachers for teachers in my neck of the woods!

>

> Jackie, Mom to 14ds, 11, and Bradley 8

HI

It goes on here and is abused by " certain " teachers. Our Sped dept. is the

exception., They give up everything for their kids including the teachers

lounge. I've also noticed they are treated like 2nd class citizens too why

we have a new teacher each year

On the subject of field trips, Sped in Sara's school doesn't do them. Reg Ed

has field trips and each kid with an IEP is assigned to a Reg Ed

class.........no matter how much time they spend in Reg Ed. We also don't

have life skill classes, Sara's sped class is called Expanded Resource and

then we have just plain old Resource for kids with LD labels. If a parent

wants life skills then the kids are sent to a school that has that class.

Same with Preschool Sped.

Funding is sooooo bad in TN that field trips have been limited to one a year,

Sara's this year was to a nature center, time spent learning about snakes and

such YUCK lolol Middle school and HS gets no field trips.

Kathy mom to Sara 10

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/3/2002 11:44:40 AM Central Standard Time,

thrill@... writes:

> This is so true--not with all, but with many teachers. I started a new job

> this year and have yet to see the lounge for lunch!! Too busy preparing for

> the next class or tutoring a student through my lunch. I do hope to make it

> to the lounge for lunch before the end of the year, though!!

>

> Jill

Ooooh a note to those who's teachers are not present/teaching during Music,

Art and PE, check out where your teacher is during that time....many hang out

in the teachers lounge. Sara's reg ed teacher is busy working with the sped

teacher on mods for the day at the time others don't

Kathy mom to Sara 10....who peeks in the lounge time to time lolol and

teachers DON'T go to the cafeteria for lunch

[Guest guest]

I should have clarified this better. I was asking about the autographs. I

thought that was inappropriate.

As far as field trips, I think they are great if all the kids in the class

get to go. But I strongly disagree if the Sped kids go on community

outings, independent of their nondisabled peers. Now I am sure there are

students who would benefit from outings, but not all the kids who are in

special ed. That is fitting the kid into a program and not working on each

child's individual needs. I want to work on academics as much as

possible.

It appears our public schools do not take advantage of field trips as often

as other schools. My other kids only took one field trip per year.

, our after school programs are ran by the county parks and rec. I pay

$250.00 a month. While this is a daycare expense (and the sites are

licensed for daycare), the kids do a variety of activities. Last year we

had numerous problems with the after school program. We switched to another

site (one close to my office) and it's been wonderful. has gone

swimming, plays field hockey, plays nintendo, basketball, etc. The

supervisor at this site is great with all the kids and she believes in

inclusion. I ran into the director of P & R Friday night and told her how

happy I was with the staff this year. She told me to put that in writing

and she will put the staff in for a bonus!