The School Team Meeting
The meeting ended up consisting of 3 of my son's teachers (but NOT the one he has the most difficulty with) and an intern. The teachers seemed fairly understanding and willing to try a few options at least until we get my son "over the hump". Their main concern was his apathy. I discussed some of his past abuse/neglect history, that negativity (and especially what he considers being yelled at) is an extreme trigger for him and my feeling that he needs positive reinforcement and just some good old fashion motivation to get through this at this time. His male history teacher actually offered to spend some time a couple of days a week after school with him and then to drive him home (we live about 3 minutes from the school). It didn't go badly at all....but then...
I go to my class and when I get out, I have a voicemail from the principal that my son's cell phone went off during band first period and that he heard I had a meeting today and I could pick it up at the office then and that it was an immediate Saturday school. First of all, first period band starts at 7:45. I was at the school until 9 a.m. Hello?? Secondly, I am just done. And yes, I lost it with the prinicpal (although I did assure him it wasn't personal towards him). I did inform him that I just had a meeting about insights into my son's apathy and well, that I am beginning to understand my son's apathy! He seriously has had detention over the last few weeks for the following: being rowdy in physical education, talking during physical education, for going to the bathroom after finishing a standardized test on the way to physical education, not doing science in-class work (which 15 other boys in the same class also received?), and now for forgetting to turn his phone off early this morning.
The principal kindly pointed out to me that the rules are the rules, that they are consistent for every child and that they know the rules, and they are just strictly enforced. I told him that I knew the history of their school, my daughter also went there and also got a detention for ME not signing a form after she had missed 10 days of school with a serious case of mono because it WAS highlighted that kids would get detention for not returning the signed form on the said date. I explained that I completely understand how their system works and their lack of leniency (humanity?) and that personally I was just done with it myself, that obviously there is NEVER an exception to ANY rule and that in my opinion their rules are just wrong. There can and should be consideration of the rules for the GREATER GOOD, always! I then asked for the contact person above him to address my concerns with this school and the lovely way it works.
And whew...so much for my breathing exercises, and yep, I cried as I left. Just another day in the life and times of Rani :-)
I go to my class and when I get out, I have a voicemail from the principal that my son's cell phone went off during band first period and that he heard I had a meeting today and I could pick it up at the office then and that it was an immediate Saturday school. First of all, first period band starts at 7:45. I was at the school until 9 a.m. Hello?? Secondly, I am just done. And yes, I lost it with the prinicpal (although I did assure him it wasn't personal towards him). I did inform him that I just had a meeting about insights into my son's apathy and well, that I am beginning to understand my son's apathy! He seriously has had detention over the last few weeks for the following: being rowdy in physical education, talking during physical education, for going to the bathroom after finishing a standardized test on the way to physical education, not doing science in-class work (which 15 other boys in the same class also received?), and now for forgetting to turn his phone off early this morning.
The principal kindly pointed out to me that the rules are the rules, that they are consistent for every child and that they know the rules, and they are just strictly enforced. I told him that I knew the history of their school, my daughter also went there and also got a detention for ME not signing a form after she had missed 10 days of school with a serious case of mono because it WAS highlighted that kids would get detention for not returning the signed form on the said date. I explained that I completely understand how their system works and their lack of leniency (humanity?) and that personally I was just done with it myself, that obviously there is NEVER an exception to ANY rule and that in my opinion their rules are just wrong. There can and should be consideration of the rules for the GREATER GOOD, always! I then asked for the contact person above him to address my concerns with this school and the lovely way it works.
And whew...so much for my breathing exercises, and yep, I cried as I left. Just another day in the life and times of Rani :-)
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