randywallace's Blog

Hi Randy. I'll be watching, and I'll make sure my mom tunes in as well. She is a special education teacher, and she's had a pretty rough time this school year trying to get all of her students' needs met. She gives all she's got for her kids, and she truly wishes to see each and every one of them succeed. It's challenging for her, though, because her classroom is just jam-packed with kids on all different learning levels, and each requires special and unique attention, and she's only one person and there's only so much time in a day.
And the TAKS tests grading system is so unfair to these kids- they don't even evaluate each individual child's skill-set and scale it accordingly. How are they supposed to document a child's development and growth when they are being graded on this type of system? Mom teaches 8th grade, and a lot of her students are "life-skills" (which for some is like a 1st grade math level), and they are expected to multiply fractions? I've really gotta hand it to my mom, she is such an amazing teacher- and person. I really respect what she does every day for her kids, and how much of her heart she pours into really getting them to learn. God bless her.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what your report will be about.

ps: Hope to see you on Saturday for the blogger picnic at Discovery Green.

Ugh...I'm not even sure where to start. My children attend the school that was shown in this report. I volunteer quite frequently and personally know most of the staff including the special ed staff. They are some of the most loving and caring people you could ever meet. Special ed teachers are a special breed...this is job that most could never do, including myself. I also know quite a bit about bi-polar disorder. I have a nephew (middle school age) who has it and I also have a good friend with a 9 year old son that has it. When these kids get angry or upset, you have no idea the strength that they have. You might as well be trying to wrestle with a 250 lb man. What about the safety of the teachers and aides and the other children in the school? What would have happened if they had physically tried to restrain him and the child was hurt? What if they had tried to restrain him and the parents called the cops on the teachers? I realize there are certainly kinks in the system that need to be worked out. I completely understand about the child being expelled from school and I completely back the school on that decision. If this child has been as many medications as was stated in the report, it may be time for a new doctor or hospitalize the child until the right meds are found. That way he stays safe and others around him stay safe. I do honestly feel bad for the child, but at the same time I need my children in a safe environment.