keeping PC kiddos in public school

[Guest guest]

We have tried to keep our 10 year old son Cameron in public school, as he

thrives on drama, music and speech. But I have to tell yall about today at

school. I got an excited phone call from my cousin, who is a substitute

teacher at the elementary school.....she said they were in " lock-down " and

had been for about 30 minutes. She wanted to know if I had heard anything on

the fire/police scanner about what might be going on. Well, it happens they

were actually in what our schools call " key-lock down " , which is all doors

and windows closed, blinds shut, no one in or out of individual classrooms,

much less the outer doors.

Apparantly some parent " went off " on the school....threatening to harm or

take a child/children....it's all still unclear. Police were called.

Students and teachers were not informed about what was going on...just that

they had to stay put..... So, my hubby went up to the school and told them

our son had a dr appt.......he managed to talk his way in past police

guards...(LOL).....spoke to the principal on his way down the hall.......and

told our son's teacher he was either going to stay WITH our son....or he was

going to get him outta there. The teacher told him to do whatever he felt

the most comfortable about. (They had been locked down about 2 1/2 hours by

then.) So hubby grabbed our son and left! I asked him if he thought

" attitude " made him bullet-proof. (He said he was watching~~~~) Anyway - I

think the teacher and principal were glad to have our son outta there because

they were afraid the stress was going to cause him to have a PC attack.

Well, it did, after he got home and really realized what he had been through.

School was supposed to be out at 3.....at 4 they were still locked down.

This world is getting crazier by the day~

Donna Womack

(Cameron's Mom)

Fort Worth, TX

[Guest guest]

Donna

Same problem here with Cassie, If he is that determined to be in schooltry

the following. 1. Meet witht he Director of Pupil Service for school

district the may call it something else in your area but they are the peson

who decides how money will be spent in the school system. They are also the

person most empowered to make considerations for our special needs kids. All

others within your school system would report to him and he in turns reports

directly to the superintendent of schools.

With Cassie I have done everything from having classes changed due to a

teacher that constantly nagged at her about her missing school due to CP.

Several times they have offered to have her grading system changed from A-F

to pass or fail thus relieving the pressure kids face on there grades. At

least twice a year they offer to cut her schooling to 1/2 days and still have

her meet the attendence requirements. I'm going to tell you though I'm an

anal retentive when it comes to Cassie. I really had to fight and show my

ugly side to get her what she needed in school as well as what the law

requires of them. Some things are so simple and cost them nothing yet the

resistance is enourmus. She was 1st diagnosed in 2000, yet it was not till

last month that we actually got to the point that I could let her have hot

lunch at school. I now get a monthly menu and cross out what she can't eat,

and they have to replace it with something she can. Some days she has

nothing that was on that days menu. I have also told her anytime she starts

to feel stressed call and I will come after her. I would rather her miss a

couple hours of school due to stress than days on end due to an attack. I

have it set up so she gets a tutor for 2 hours at the school district

expenses for each day she loses. Do you have a tutor set up for your son?

We had though about home schooling her but everyone advises against it at

this point. They say give her the socialization now, before she gets to ill.

I hope this helps god bless to you and yours.

Patty Hurst

Bangor, ME

Maine State Rep

PAI