Frustrated with Public School Once Again
I’ve shared my issues with public schooling and my son before. So it really isn’t any surprise that once again I’m feeling frustrated with the public school system. Don’t get me wrong – I respect the teachers and the patience they have to have in order to teach a room full of kids all day every day…that takes a lot from one person! It takes a special person to have the ability to do what teachers do and I totally get that.
But…
Why is it so hard for a public school to give my son the help he needs? What ever happened to the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) act? The NCLB act has given more Federal funding to public schools to help the school have more control and more flexibility to use resources where they are needed, principals and administrators can move funds from one program to another to use money wisely and most, to meet student needs (italicized words are a quote from the ed.gov site).
Then why isn’t my son getting extra help? Shouldn’t the school have some form of tutoring program or a special class available to him?
Granted I understand that my child is only ONE person and there are several other kids in his class/school but that doesn’t give the school the right to NOT provide assistance to him. Right?
So why is it that my son has not even been in school for ONE month yet and he’s already receiving an F in math, a 59%? We do homework every night, we study flash cards, we go over the things he’s being taught in class but he just does not understand it (and I have to admit that some of the stuff he brings home even I can not help him with!) He burst out in tears in the middle of class the other day because he was so upset/frustrated that he wasn’t understanding – the teacher gave him a few minutes of one on one time after that. But he should be getting more and after a letter to the teacher today if he doesn’t get the help he needs you better believe I will be putting up a fight!
Do you have issues with your child getting the help he/she needs?
Anyone have any suggestions on what else I can do here at home to help him?
1tammy
wrote on 30 September 2009 at 8:39
You know quite well about recent issues with Kiersten’s school. I went thru several meetings with various people until finally we just decided to pull her out because it was causing self-confidence issues too.
It sounds to me like you are doing a great job helping him at home and that he needs more support while he is at school. Maybe you can schedule a meeting with his teacher and discuss in person what is going and how to help him?
2Julie
wrote on 30 September 2009 at 8:41
Tishia,
Our older son has ADHD. By law, at least here in FL, if your child has special needs and is failing classes you have the right to meet with his councelors and they made a special plan to help him in his education. (for the life of me I can not remember what they call it). You should do some searching for your state and see what kind of provisions they have, I’m sure there is something due to the no child left behind. I did find that we had to be our sons advocate. It’s not something the school just offers you really have to push for all that is due to your child. (it shouldn’t be that way). In about the 10th grade we found a charter school near by that was part of the public school system that he qualified for. It was more one on one attention and much to our surprise he actually graduated. I know, that sounds bad, but we really had out doubts.
3Heather @ CSAHM
wrote on 30 September 2009 at 8:45
It is so frustrating. I think the problem with the public school is the fact that the classrooms are so big. There are too many kids, not enough teachers.
We started homeschooling when my 11 year old was in second grade because she was just failing everything. The teacher told us she does well when it’s one on one time. Which most kids DO do better when it’s just one on one time. But the teachers in the school just don’t have that one resource they do need in order to make sure every kid succeeds, and that is time.
I would definitely ask the teacher what it is specifically he is having trouble with. Is he failing because he’s getting a bad grade on tests? Or is he not doing well in the classroom setting? Is it just multiplication (just an example) he is having trouble with?
If it’s tests he is having trouble with then maybe the teacher could give him extra time to do the test or he could do extra studying before the test. If it’s just being in the classroom setting then maybe he could move his seat to the front of the room, or maybe he needs glasses? If it’s something like multiplication, etc. he is having trouble with maybe you could have him do extra work on the weekends. Maybe find some games online he could play to help him better understand it. Or you could ask the teacher if they do have a tutoring program available.
I know it’s frustrating. I know with all 3 of my kids they have their strong points and they have their weaknesses. It just takes extra practice and and a bit of time to help them succeed. Praying for you!
4Stephanie
wrote on 30 September 2009 at 8:55
I am not up to date on the issues, but have you asked the school for an IEP? If you ask, they must do it. They will do some testing, and he should then qualify for special assistance of some sort if he’s failing.
The issue with the NCLB act is that while it looks good on paper, it actually is under funded so it made things worse. Prior to NCLB my (now 17) daughter was getting services due to mild dyslexia. Once NCLB came about she was no longer able to get services since she was not actually flunking.
Instead school became something she dreaded and hated and I luckily was able to get some help for her (cost over 5000 dollars a year) myself.
Don’t give up and ask for an IEP if you have not already.
5admin
wrote on 30 September 2009 at 8:55
Tammy – I’m waiting to hear from his teacher so we can try to get this resolved. He can’t go through the rest of the year like this!
Julie – My son also has ADHD (he was diagnosed in 1st grade I believe). I think what you are referring to is an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Yeah no one else will go to bat for our kids so we definitely have to be the advocate and do it for them.
Heather – The thing is this year he’s in a new school and it’s supposed to be one of the best in this area (I graduated from this school). It’s a VERY small school (K-12 is all in ONE building…in my class that graduated there were 19 if that gives you a better idea of how small this school is) so the class sizes are way smaller than most of the schools in the area. He’s getting bad grades on everything (even the homework we do!) so it’s not just one specific area it’s the whole math concept in general (well he rocks with addition so it’s not that area). His eyes have been tested – perfect vision.
6admin
wrote on 30 September 2009 at 8:58
Stephanie – Thank you for your input. I’ve heard too that the NCLB act actually did make things worse. I’ve checked in our area for assistance for him and so far I’ve come across nothing (we live in a very small town so there isn’t much of anything around these neck of the woods). But I won’t give up. I’ll do whatever it takes to get my son the help he needs!
7Vanessa
wrote on 30 September 2009 at 12:35
No problems yet in public school, but, yes, I had problems when Caleb was in private school (that’s the reason he is in public school this year). All I can tell you is that I will pray for you and your sweet boy. You are doing an awesome job!
8Bobbi Janay
wrote on 30 September 2009 at 12:52
All I can say is good luck, I can’t even imagine what it is like to go through this.
9Teressa
wrote on 30 September 2009 at 16:00
I’m sorry about your frustrations!! What grade is Caleb in? Maybe I can help… What is he studying now?
10Mary Lutz
wrote on 1 October 2009 at 12:30
You know my Kaleb is ADHD, and the struggles and frustrations we went through trying to get him the help he needed. What was worse, was the way some of the teachers made me feel…like I was doing something wrong…like not disciplining him enough and so on because he would act out in school. I got called in more than once because he hid under his desk and wouldn’t come out…I think he was so embarrassed that he didn’t “get it” that all he wanted to do was hide. There were also the times he kicked his teacher. Those were pretty embarrassing as well, and looking back I realize it’s because he was so frustrated with himself. Often in kids with ADHD comes anger issues as well…probably because they are so frustrated!
I remember not understanding why my son was acting like this, and at times I did feel like a bad parent. Well, I am not a bad parent and teachers and school administrators need to learn and understand how to teach ADD and ADHD students.
There are so many out there now days that our school systems should be looking at the way they teach. Are their old teaching styles still relevant today? You would think with today’s technology they would be able to come up with some sort of system that works well for ADHD/ADD kids and for those who don’t suffer from this “disorder”.
And why did they name it a disorder anyway? When we got Kaleb diagnosed, the psychologist that did the testing explained to me that most ADD/ADHD kids are very smart and when they are doing something they’re interested in, they focus really well. So, why can’t the school systems come up with programs that make subjects like math or English more interesting for those who normally aren’t interested?
I should have written my own blog post about this!!! Sorry for blurting all over your blog!
Keep me posted.
11Author (Tishia)
wrote on 2 October 2009 at 14:06
Vanessa – Thank you for your prayers, they are much needed and appreciated
Bobbi – Thanks for your comment. To be honest – it SUCKS going through this. I have problems with him (his learning) in school every year!
Teressa – He is in 5th grade and they are studying lots of different things right now. I don’t even know half of what they are doing. I don’t have his math book or anything right here in front of me so I can’t give you a specific ‘topic’ they are studying.
Mary – LOL thanks for the book
I knew you could totally relate to me and what I’m feeling! I agree about thinking that the schools should be able to implement something to help kids more that don’t normally find math (or English or whatever) interesting.
12casual friday every day
wrote on 2 October 2009 at 19:11
I don’t even know. I do know that my son is only in Kindy and I already have a few beefs with the school! Good luck!
Nell
13Tsoniki Crazy Bull
wrote on 2 October 2009 at 22:54
NCLB did make it worse. Now teachers have to teach to the test – the kids don’t get to sit and learn and have fun, it’s all about what’s on the test.
Sounds like you are doing what you can! Working with him every night is a good idea. Does the school do some kind of math night for parents? I’m not sure when it started here, but they do a community math night that teaches the parents how they are teaching the kids (does that make sense?). I’m going to it because how they are teaching Alice isn’t how I would teach her, which doesn’t mean it’s bad, just that it’s different.
14Author (Tishia)
wrote on 3 October 2009 at 14:06
Nell – Thanks for commenting. I remember back to kindy and that’s when the first set of problems started with public schools. So it’s basically been problems every single year
Tsoniki – As far as I know they don’t have a parents math thing (but I really think they should!). Not only do I not understand half of what he’s doing, the stuff I do understand is NOT how I was taught. Thanks for your comment
15Teressa
wrote on 3 October 2009 at 20:31
Well, I have the ‘hooked-on-math’ set that I’d be willing to let you use, if you would want to work with him yourself.. (and return it when he’s through the program). Does Caleb like to work on the computer? I could suggest some skill & drill type sites for him to try as well..
The key is, you have to figure out where the deficit started, and start from there, building on his successes… Let me know if you are interested..
16Author (Tishia)
wrote on 6 October 2009 at 14:51
Teressa – Caleb loves being on the computer so if you could offer some sites that I could work with him on the computer that would be great
17Sweety
wrote on 7 October 2009 at 6:26
Hello Tishia,
Sorry to hear it.
Anyway I don’t know what type of prob Caleb is facing so I am just giving a general math aptitude website…Visit
http://www.personality-and-aptitude-career-tests.com/math-aptitude-test.html
You can tell me what type of math prob Caleb is facing so that I can give you some definite websites.
Thanks