I don't think you "pulled" any card at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think you are feeling guilty and just THINK you pulled some sorta card!

Think about it.... the teacher tried to blame some acute illness for his total unprofessional behavior! Why is that YOUR fault?

This principal needs to know that there is a teacher who is leaving a child behind! It is against the law to [revent a child's acces to education for any reason. Having a handicapped parent is grounds for an IEP just like if the child has special needs. That is SPECIAL NEEDS not special EXCUSES.

You are only asking that this teacher supply necessary information so that you child have access to the same education as every other child in the classroom. If the teacher does not get that, then he should find a new profession.

I just get so fed up with teachers who think the rules don't apply to them.
Too many think it is OK to let a special needs child and parent flounder and then dump a load on them near the end of the semester.

You know your child better than any teacher ever could. All you are doing is fighting the fight that he does not have the resources to battle for himself yet. The better you fight now, the better his chances later on in life.

You get him everything he deserves.
You go girl.

Go get 'em.
Play whatever cards you have to, sister.
Funny how when we feel we've got no fight in us-
We find some strength somewhere for our kids,gandkids, husbands,,
Family and friends.
I even find myself coming here to check on people and try to find something in me to give back.

You sound like an awesome mom. I'm amazed by what the moms here can continue to do for their children.
Hope this situation turns around for you......jc

Can you go with your son? Talk to the teacher and remind him that you have been asking and because you have been asking that makes you someone who is proactive and that this never would have happened had he been on top of things.

Tell him you understand why he got behind, but that his lack of doing his job can't put your son in this place that he is in. Ask for another test, something your son could do....as in a paper, anything to pull up the grade to passing and then some.

Tell him that in spite of chronic pain you manage to complete your responsibilities and need him to do the same.

In the long run what we are trying for here is to get your son a better grade and you will get more flies with honey so give him a way out.

Try not to be so mad and I will tell you why.
The schools are making it impossible to teach and keep up anymore.
Too many mandates from above and no time to do them in.
But I agree with sunny.... you didn't pull a card. You just spoke the truth.

Angela,

You go girl! Sometimes we have to stand up and fight for our kids.

I see what Pauli is saying about catching more flies with honey, and I do not know the whole story, but I have gone through something similar.

We tried the nice route with K's teacher, several times. Even went the nice route with the principal. Still, the problems persisted.

So I called the county school board, explained the situation, discussed my disability, and asked for an advocate to act as a facilitator between the school and us.

Got a call from the principal the next day for a meeting. We go and met with the teacher, principal, and guidance counselor, and boy, were they ever bending over backwards to help and work things out. We have had no problems since!

Great job, you are an awesome Mom! Sending hugs, love, and comfort.

Tonna

Does your son have an IEP? if he does the school has to make accomadations for him. If he doen't have one I would get one in place as it can't hurt and usually comes in handy at times like these. I understand your frustration and have been there too.

Tamale

I would have done the same thing and have pulled the card once or twice. Your son comes first which is what you were trying to do. Thats rediculous that they all of a sudden come up with the bs that they did! I hope you call the prinicpal and let him know what kind of teacher is teaching your child and how your went in to find out already and how things have changed! You go for saying something about your pain! I would have too!! Maybe you could look into doing what 4solace is doing with her daughter. Just a suggestion.
But you go get em!

That is just wrong of the teacher at our high school we have something called parent portal and I can go online at any time and check to see all my sons work and where he is at any minute just to make sure he is not skipping. I dont know if your school has anything like this but if not you can request that the teachers send you an email every Friday with the status of the week.

Can anyone tell me which century we live in? Apple announces that they have a school text book/learning initiative, every student should have an ipad, news talks about whole schools getting ipads for each student....

My district (upper middle class) has a website that a 1st grader could do better, no phone message system so you have to leave a message in the office, only a few teachers have online sites and those are the free ones..... Oh and you can get their grades on the new grading software about a month after the end of the marking period.

Makes me think it is time for privatized school systems....oh wait those are charter schools aren't they?

Thanks for the support guys. I'm not one to cause a ruckus. I usually avoid it by preventative measures and that is why I am so distraught.

My son is 15 and has been on IEP for years, so he has a file, but with this 'mini-strike' or whatever the teachers are on, this year there is no help or communication or extra work from them so there is no excuse for this from my point of view.

I did go straight to the principal in letter form so it was in writing and because I was so angry I didn't want ot come out sounding like an irate parent. I forwared all the email correspondence and demanded immediate action to rectify this since there is 7 school days left to fix this and I had zero confidence in this teacher. Last month my son was at 50% and today he is at 25% and hasn't missed a day. Come on!

I think the teacher looks at a boy and says slacker. I had the same learning imparement but at my school times, the system just dropped me and I was a dropout. I came out with low self esteem and I swore my son wouldn't come out like I did. It took me years until I found my place in life, and I am anything but stupid.

I really appreciate your support, friends. I was doubting myself this morning. I will phone the Principal today and can have an intillegent non heated conversation now.

Angela

You spoke the truth & let the teacher know that he has a job to do no matter what he has going on.

I went through this for years with my daughter. Had an IEP & used section 504. The school fought me all the way but after every spare minute of research & getting help where i could I managed to get the help she needed.

I ask for very little & still some teachers made a huge issue of it. I stood firm & let them know you have my child for this short amount of time, I have her for the rest of her life.

I'd be beyond pissed, excuse my language but this is your sons future here. You made every effort to stay on top & what he did is simply uncalled for.

I had the same, some teachers just looked at my daughter like she was lazy or had behavior/attitude problems. I'm the first to admit my children faults & she simply reacted to the way she was treated. Self esteem is so important, it can be ruined in so little time & takes forever to build back up.

Some teachers & staff highly respected me, others dreaded seeing me coming. Too bad this was my daughter & she deserved a good education & to be treated with respect. Just as your son does. Once there is an IEP or section 504 is in place they better follow it or they are breaking rules they do not want to mess with.

Every year I started over with new teachers that thought they did not have to cooperate & every year I took a trip into the school to remind them the would or I would have a legal liaison come in with me. I ask for so little as I did not want to handicap her & wanted her to take responsibility but some teachers have this Authority complex & forget who pays their wages.

Do what you must & use what you must. He's your son & thank god he has you. Your just evening out the odds for him to get the education he deserves. If the teacher is in the wrong then hold him accountable. He has no problem holding your son accountable.

I have a friend who is having problems. Her poor son won't even get out of car thanks to the treatment of his teacher. Although he has his own disabilities they just don't want to make the slightest concessions to help him. He has been through enough in his young life. I don't get it, I know teaching is not an easy job, we have teachers in our family including my step daughter but you would think they would want to help those who are at a disadvantage.

You go girl & hold back nothing.
This is your sons future & as I said he's yours for a lifetime. They do the damage & your left to repair.

I want to tell you til this day my daughter, who is now 25 thanks me for all I did. She said without my help she would have given up.
They don't forget & they know we are there for them, as it should be.
God bless, Sammy

Hun,

I have some of the same LD's that my child has. I was nearly dumped by the system. A caring teacher saved me.
That is no excuse for teachers today. No Child Left Behind actually states the teachers are responsible to PRO-actively identify LD's in children so no child goes without an education if they are giving an honest effort.

You are just taking care of one who would otherwise slip thru the cracks. There is no greater love than to do for anohter what was not done for you.

Hang in there. Better times will come.
Bunny

i give you credit for handling it so well. you've tried your best to maintain communication and they failed you. i'm glad you got to the principal. i'd print every email to the teacher and take it to the meeting if that wouldn't embarrass your son. they also NEED to know your circumstances and how much effort it takes for you to do all this. i completely agree that you did the right thing for both your son and yourself and possibly other parents who are struggling to help their kids. i say "go girl!!"
i've had to pull "the card" at times, but as a last resort and that's where you were. i don't think any of us walk around flashing it.

People do not read emails. PERIOD! I work for a company that I send email and lots of instructions and 90% of the people do NOT read the instructions and then I get nasty calls and emails because it is MY fault! a problem comes up.

These are professional people, teachers, leaders of large organizations, business people and I get screamed at. I bet this has happened to me close to 50 times in the last 6 months. They will NEVER admit they are wrong either.

I never ran across this before in other jobs, it is so mind blowing, but they do not read emails! I had something in BOLD in the email and she sent me a nasty email saying she would do the opposite of what I had in bold OMG WTF??? and...

to NEVER contact her again, but ummm sorry lady, but you never answered my calls or email questions regarding your account. I do have to do my job and I DO have to report to my bosses. Does she think I am bored and want to contact her 100 times instead of once so I can finish the project?? OMG it makes you so angry to be accused of their mistakes and have to suck it up and take it and apologize and be all sweet.

Always keep copies, names, conversation notes, etc., You did the right thing! I would have done the same thing, but with my job, unfortunately I can't shove it in their face like you could or I'd lose my job. From me, THANK YOU for doing it for me! Maybe at least one person will suck it up and admit they were wrong.

You're my hero!

Thanks guys!

I have an update. I received a call from the teacher and he has given my son a special assignment. So my son and I have spent the last 4 hours together putting together a short story review, and if he passes this test/assignment, then he passes English this year.

I am grateful for the chance for my child to bring up his grade and hope that it is enough and we have a good outcome.

We can only try, with emails and verbal and all good intentions, but in the end, sometimes we get crappy teachers and sometimes we get the odd great teacher.

love you guys, seriously

MY SON PASSED!

He is so happy and he said the teacher told him he did a really good job on the assignment


When ever my kids gets discouraged, I remind him of this fact:


""""If you have a young child, who occasionally displays extraordinary brilliance, you might be used to people calling him "Einstein." However, did you know that as a child Albert Einstein was a slow learner? His teacher believed that Albert would not succeed in any career. Of course, Einstein proved that slow learners need not be unintelligent."""""" (quotations@about.com)