Guest guest Posted June 26, 2003 Report Share Posted June 26, 2003 a, I fully agree with you. When was in the deaf school, they discouraged parent involvement. Parents visiting the class was a total No, No. It turns out their curriculum was also lacking and the teachers were just overpaid babysitters. They wouldn't even do IEP's as they were convinced (in their minds) that deaf children were considered normal and did not fall into the handicapped umbrella. Whereas since transferred to the Montreal Oral School for the Deaf, they encourage and insist on parent involvement. As they say the family is an extension of the school and the parents must continue where the teacher leaves off. Duchoeny BEA Volunteer -- Father of (C-II Mar. 5/01 at 9 yr.) Activated Apr. 2/01 in Burlington, VT Hi-Res Dec. 20/02 in Ottawa, Ont. Montreal, Que. http://www.duchoeny.com frank@... Re: Visiting Schools I have to say that I found this thread to be very interesting as well as enlightening. A few years ago, the preschool program for hearing impaired children my daughter attended wouldn't let parents observe, volunteer or " pop in. " I agree that teachers' classes should not be disrupted, but I also feel that parents of young children who are just learning to speak have every right to be allowed into the school to observe their child. At that time, my daughter didn't have enough language to tell me what she did in school that day, what she liked/disliked about her teacher or her peers, etc. and the school did not do enough to communicate with the parents on a regular basis. I became the class parent because it was the ONLY way I was able to get into the classroom. I soon understood why they wouldn't let parents come in unannouced. The groupings weren't appropriate, the student to teacher and aid ratios were not sufficient and some children were so disruptive the teacher was unable to get through the curriculum. There was no support from the administration for any of these issues. I think een's suggestions: I would set up a conference with the teacher. Let them know that you want to observe the child in the classroom and set up a time to come... are very good ones. I and several other parents tried to volunteer at our children's school, the administration didn't even want us in the building much less their classrooms. In our case, there were serious issues of trust, poor teacher to parent communication and difficulties between both parents and administration as well as between teachers and the administration. When it comes to late diagnosed children and language development, time is always of the essence. I felt we had no time choice but to find a better program, one that would welcome us and meet our child's needs. We went to the Moog School in St. Louis for 3 years and never regretted it for a moment. The differences in the programs, parent/teacher relationships, observation policy and just about everything were like night and day. My heart still broke for all the children in the old program and I'm planning to work to offer better options for children and their parents. Families should not have to fight so hard to get what they need for their children. a * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * a Rosenthal, Publisher & Speaker v. f. e. info@... w. http://www.HearingExchange.com a. P.O. Box 689, Jericho, NY 11753 HearingExchange - For People with Hearing Loss, Families & Professionals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 26, 2003 Report Share Posted June 26, 2003 In Houston, at The Center for Hearing and Speech, the new HIPPA Laws are really affecting how much contact we can have with our child during class. The great thing is many of the class rooms have small observation booths, where the child sees a mirror on their side. We do have to follow a schedule of visiting, and we can't go to their room without an escort. As this school as an audiology clinic, the HIPPA Laws really effect the follow of families and visitors. It is a bit of a bummer, but I am glad that I get to observe 3Xs a week. R. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 26, 2003 Report Share Posted June 26, 2003 I don't know if I fully agree or not, but in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing program at my daughter's school, - I have always been welcomed whether or not they know i am coming or if I just drop in. Also, the teachers and one Deaf parent of deaf kids has been instrumental in setting up panels for the parents of the grade school (DHH) program. Panels consists of parents who have been there, deaf teenagers, deaf college students, etc, etc. Unfortunately most of the parents do not take advantage of these opportunities. I am sorry you had a bad experience withe the deaf school, but most of the l programs, fortunately, are not like the one you experienced. M. > >Reply-To: Listen-Up >To: <Listen-Up > >CC: " a Rosenthal " >Subject: Re: Re: Visiting Schools >Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2003 10:20:56 -0400 > >a, > >I fully agree with you. When was in the deaf school, they discouraged >parent involvement. Parents visiting the class was a total No, No. It turns >out their curriculum was also lacking and the teachers were just overpaid >babysitters. They wouldn't even do IEP's as they were convinced (in their >minds) that deaf children were considered normal and did not fall into the >handicapped umbrella. > >Whereas since transferred to the Montreal Oral School for the Deaf, >they encourage and insist on parent involvement. As they say the family is >an extension of the school and the parents must continue where the teacher >leaves off. > > Duchoeny >BEA Volunteer >-- >Father of (C-II Mar. 5/01 at 9 yr.) >Activated Apr. 2/01 in Burlington, VT >Hi-Res Dec. 20/02 in Ottawa, Ont. >Montreal, Que. >http://www.duchoeny.com >frank@... > Re: Visiting Schools > > > I have to say that I found this thread to be very interesting as well as > enlightening. > > A few years ago, the preschool program for hearing impaired children my > daughter attended wouldn't let parents observe, volunteer or " pop in. " I > agree that teachers' classes should not be disrupted, but I also feel > that parents of young children who are just learning to speak have every > right to be allowed into the school to observe their child. At that > time, my daughter didn't have enough language to tell me what she did in > school that day, what she liked/disliked about her teacher or her peers, > etc. and the school did not do enough to communicate with the parents on > a regular basis. I became the class parent because it was the ONLY way I > was able to get into the classroom. I soon understood why they wouldn't > let parents come in unannouced. The groupings weren't appropriate, the > student to teacher and aid ratios were not sufficient and some children > were so disruptive the teacher was unable to get through the curriculum. > There was no support from the administration for any of these issues. > > I think een's suggestions: > > I would set up a conference with the teacher. Let them know that you >want to observe the child in the classroom and set up a time to come... > > are very good ones. I and several other parents tried to volunteer at > our children's school, the administration didn't even want us in the > building much less their classrooms. In our case, there were serious > issues of trust, poor teacher to parent communication and difficulties > between both parents and administration as well as between teachers and > the administration. > > When it comes to late diagnosed children and language development, time > is always of the essence. I felt we had no time choice but to find a > better program, one that would welcome us and meet our child's needs. We > went to the Moog School in St. Louis for 3 years and never regretted it > for a moment. The differences in the programs, parent/teacher > relationships, observation policy and just about everything were like > night and day. My heart still broke for all the children in the old > program and I'm planning to work to offer better options for children > and their parents. Families should not have to fight so hard to get what > they need for their children. > > a > > * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * > > a Rosenthal, Publisher & Speaker > v. > f. > e. info@... > w. http://www.HearingExchange.com > a. P.O. Box 689, Jericho, NY 11753 > HearingExchange - For People with Hearing Loss, Families & Professionals > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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