A whole week?

I really should not ever go a full week without blogging. Blogging helps me to see things in a much better perspective.

The last almost week has been very busy and I've not had alot of time to dwell on issues.

Our youngest boy has had some difficulty adjusting to kindergarten this year and we are working hard at assisting him in this transition.

I was frustrated and a bit angry at the school as we made contact with them on several occasions to try and arrange a meeting.

Several times this week he was sent home with what they call skills, these are little notes that tell the parent when a child is sent to the "skills" room, which is basically a time out room.

I have no problem with the system, with the fact that he was put into time out, or the fact that he was given a "skills" to bring home.

My issue came when, in talking to our son, he indicated that before each of his offenses, he went to a teacher to help him solve an issue with another of his friends and the teacher pretty much blew him off, they say they "encourage" the children to work things out for themselves.

Now, mind you, I'm not talking about another student verbally mocking or insulting my son, one such incident involved another student kicking my son. He went to the teacher and she told im to use his "I words" which translates into "I don't like that". He did that, and still the child continued to kick him. So, my son spit on him.

In no way do I condone spitting on another person. Ever. It is nasty and disgusting, and he was punished for it, not only at school by being sent to the skills room, but, as well as at home. I simply will not tolerate disrespect from my children, not even aimed at another child.

So, the problem came when I tried to explain that my son is feeling as if he has to take things into his own hands because he is not being assisted by a teacher. I didn't expect the teacher to run over and punish the other child. She could however, have went over and stood there while my son used his "I words" to ensure that the other child was using his listning ears. Or, better yet, she could have stepped in and explained to the other child that we do not physically hurt our friends.

In trying to explain this, the teacher involved became very defensive. I tried again to explian that our son does have social issues, this is his first year around a group of children, that we in no way doubt that what she says he did, he actually did. Nor do we think that what he did was right. Nor will he go without punishment.

Even that didn't seem to satisfy her. She was still convinced that we were trying to get our son off the hook. Nothing could have been farther from the truth. I refuse to allow my children to dump ownership of their actions onto someone else. I don't care what another child does, he does NOT deserve to be spit on. No child should have to go to school afraid that someone else is going to hit them, or hurt them, or call them names, and I refuse to allow my children to become the bully.

I guess the problem comes because so many parents are more concerned with their own image. If their child does bad things, it makes them look bad right? Well, most parents can't handle that, me, I can handle that I'm not perfect, but the school is so used to defending themselves I guess that they can't accept it when I say "I know he did wrong, but, there were other factors and we need to correct this, not just him, but the other factors as well"

By other factors, I mean that when he went to a teacher, she should have stepped in. I think it sends a bad message to a five year old when he goes to a teacher, she refuses to help, and then he is punished by the same teacher only a moment later for what, in his mind, is defending himself. Again, his reaction was wrong, but, there is bound to be a reaction when someone is kickinig you. Also, my son is bored. Horribly. Acadmically he is about two grades higher then his peers. He reads, he writes, he does math, knows colors, shapes and sizes. The teacher I understand has other children to teach these things too, but, he is bored. Idle hands make for trouble.

>sighs<

So, meeting too place. I think we understand each other now. They are going to test his iq and reading and math to see if he should spend some time with the 1st graders so that he can be challenged academically. We do not think our son is perfect, and he will be punished for the things he does at school and they will call us if there is an issue that can't be worked out. They will take the time to listen to his words and help him find better solutions to problems.

On a better note, my oldest son is doing fabulous in school and despite a disability, has nearly caught up with his peers. We are so proud of him.

Chris has been invited to join a frat and I just can't help but giggle at the thought. Frat parties would never be the same once he attented.

Well, I will try to post more tomarrow for now I am heading to bed.