Email to my son's school counsellor
10/12/2005 07:39 p.m.
*Names changed to protect the innocent and the not so innocent alike.

Context - I've had it with teachers in this school district making assumptions, not listening to myself and/or my son about his disability and not being understanding or sensitive to his needs. My son just returned to school Tuesday after more than a week's long hospitalization for depression. Despite the fact that I am an employee of this same district, I have been making my wishes and concerns known this year, and this one, so far has been the icing on the cake!

Mrs. Johnson,

I'm sorry if I seem to be a bother, but I have serious concerns aboutTommy's new TX. History class.

Ms. Andrews emailed me yesterday about Tommy's performance in class and not having his make-up work. I responded to her email and informed her that
a) Tommy lost memory of 4 days while hospitalized
b) He wasn't able to complete any assignments while in the hospital but that I would work with him every night
c) that Tommy is 504, and although he hasn't had a 504 committee meeting this year his previous accomodations should still be applicable, that if Washington Middle School has a CM lab it can be used as part of his accomodations.

When Tommy and I started working on his assignments last night I told him to get his books out. Tommy informed me that Ms. Andrews had taken his backpack, gone through it, and taken his textbook. Tommy was very upset that Ms. Andrews had gone through his backpack, as I am as well.

On what basis does a teacher go through a student's belongings? If she suspects a student of having contraband it should be handled by a principle. If she was looking for Tommy's work she should have asked him for it, or asked his permission to look for it.

I emailed Ms. Andrews last night (I cc'd the email to you), stating that Tommy said she had taken his textbook and could she please check one out to him ASAP.

Rather than just check a book out to Tommy as I requested she emailed me back that the book he had belonged to his previous teacher and that "Policy is you can not keep books from teachers you don't have."

If the previous teacher checked the book out to Tommy to take home, then Tommy is responsible for returning the book. If it's not returned then I am responsible for paying for the book. I don't understand where Ms. Andrews has a responsibility to take the book out of Tommy's backpack and turn it in. Her intentions may have been good, but the message of her actions has not been well received by Tommy and now by myself.

Tommy has made it very clear to me how much he dislikes this teacher, mostly because of the backpack incident, and he would rather have his previous teacher back. Tommy doesn't need any more stressors at this point, and I fear that this particular class setting is creating that for him.

I do not want to end up in a conflict with Ms. Andrews or any of Tommys's teachers, but I feel that Ms. Andrews is not being understanding of Tommy's situation or sensitive to his specific needs at this time.

I strongly feel that it would in Tommy's best interest to remove him from this class. Is there anyway possible Jared can be put back into the other Tx. History class?


Sincerely,

A Mother fighting for her son
I am currently Feisty