Tikkabik

With all the frustrations we've had over the years (and continue to have) with public education and our children, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that over time, there have been people who have genuinely been interested in helping our kids and doing what they can for them. I recently had an opportunity to learn this lesson when I was reading over my older son Robert's school records, which we bought and paid for late last year.

Robert had an absolutely miserable, demoralizing time in Kindergarten. This is before he was clinically diagnosed with ADHD and before he was treated for it -- before we'd heard the words ODD or Mood Disorder NOS applied to our son -- and we really didn't understand the depth or breadth of what he was (or we were) dealing with. We knew he had a lot of problems adjusting to life in school, though. He went on a "behavior contract," he got injured a lot from his own hyperactivity, and at parent teacher conferences, we'd often stare across the table at one another asking each other, "What do we do next?"

By the end of it, Bonnie and I were resolved to homeschool him for first grade, which we did, and we were left with the opinion that his teacher was ineffectual and a bad match.

In retrospect, I think that was a harsh judgment. It's clear from the record that Robert's kindergarten teacher alerted the school administration to her suspicion that he be evaluted for special ed, and they did nothing.

Not a goddamn thing.

By now it's a familiar story for those of you who follow this blog. And no surprise to anyone who's dealt with similar situations in their childrens' schools.

The administration will do everything they can to avoid paying for any extra services they don't have to. They'd just as soon sweep your child under the rug. They are your enemy, and don't forget it.

I'm not saying that you should create an adversarial atmosphere with school administrators -- in fact, just the opposite. But never, ever forget in your dealings with them that your child's welfare, health and happiness isn't their number one priority. It's the bottom line.