Comments on: Important things (via Chuck Norris)

By: Erin

Erin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:55:08 +0000

As a public school teacher who enjoys your blog (and also agrees that many kids who have IEPs are not having their needs met, much as we try), I have to chime in to agree with what Stacey said about not having time in the day to get together the homework when I am teaching. The most frustrating part? Most of the time I do manage to get together something for the parents to pick up–and more than half the time (I’m being kind–probably more than 75% of the time) no one ever comes to get it. I think sometimes parents feel like we are failing their kids, and I think we also sometimes feel like they are failing their kids. I wish that it wasn’t like that. Ultimately, most parents want the best for their kids, and we as teachers feel the exact same way. Most of us try really, really hard to meet the needs of all our students.

By: kate c.w.

kate c.w. — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:47:17 +0000

There is no way I am sending my kids to public school!!! Good lord.

By: Wendalette

Wendalette — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:47:43 +0000

Love the Chuck! In college, there were a few of us who made up Chuck Norris-type facts about one of our English professors. We loved (and feared) that guy.

By: Melanie

Melanie — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:30:49 +0000

The first 2 paragraphs of this fabulous post are the identical circumstances I am living right now with my 10yr old Asperger son and our school district. They called me and said that, “We are confused as to why you are asking for and IEP or 504. Your sons grades and test scores are advanced. He apears to be fine academically at this time.”

I am (Heaven Help me) seriously considering home schooling for the remainder of this year. Ca schools are not great and with the drastic cuts ongoing as well as being in an over crowded district…..my options are few!

Good Luck to You!!!

By: Brigitte

Brigitte — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:17:06 +0000

Ooh, Otto has been assimilated! He must have known resistance would be futile.

By: mamaspeak

mamaspeak — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:58:35 +0000

Ironically, my 1st grader gets quite a bit of homework, every week. And that started in kindergarten. We’re used to it now, but EVERY single parent is shocked by the sheer amount of it when we first start. AND the kids have NO down time during class. In K last yr I know they missed recess a couple times b/c they didn’t get their class work done. And individuals who didn’t get it done missed it quite a bit. We are a CA school. CA is not known for being at the top education wise. I just can’t imagine what the schools are like in the top ten states.

By: Lori B

Lori B — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:08:05 +0000

I’m not quite sure when exactly my kids are learning during the day. Between lunch, recess, specials (gym, library, guidance, etc.) stopping the day 35 minutes before dismissal, and all the time they spend playing “educational games” on the computer or watching “Magic Schoolbus,” I’m thinking they are only getting about 3-4 hours of actual learning a day. But they’re gone for 8 hours and then have a ton of homework when they get home! It’s enough to make me want to homeschool, well, almost.

By: Wilma Ham

Wilma Ham — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:06:32 +0000

I went to a public school and as a result I do not need to know who this chuck guy is but I can guess and I could still get the jist of the post.
I also can read the comments and check the link mentioned above.
Do not worry, school is less important than we think, kids educate themselves and they learned more at dinner.
Peace Mir, peace.

By: Becky

Becky — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:25:05 +0000

All of these souls who have not been exposed to Chuck Norris are prompting me to post this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Internet_phenomena

I like to periodically check it, to make sure I haven’t missed out on anything vital to my internet experience. And it’s hilarious to read the historical background of some of these things.

By: Kris

Kris — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:11:35 +0000

We are in the same problem area of a child with Asperger’s who gets decent enough grades that they don’t want to do a damn thing for her.

HOWEVER….

They may have to after all. Check your state’s educational laws. They must provide for some sort of socialization (other than being in class with, um, other kids all day) and I have yet to figure out how to make them do this. She does see the school social worker who has her meet in a group of kids, but still, her grades are great – but she’s flipping her card to red every single week. (Duh.)