Samantha Drake: My Thoughts, My Words, My Life

I am writing this blog to address the absent nature of many of the teachers in today's schools.  I have an autistic kindergarten aged son who has recently been experiencing some behavior problems at his school.  I am most concerned about the problems that he's been having because up until now my son has never displayed any behavior problems.  The notes that have been coming home suggest that there is no supervision in the classroom.  Now don't get me wrong, I understand that a teacher cannot be at all places at all times.  However, I got a phone call from the school that my son kicked two students in the line on the restroom.  My question is this, "What is happening that the teacher does not ever what happens before the inappropriate behavior occurs?"  I have had numerous meetings with the school, administrators, etc. to discuss his behavior intervention program (BIP). 

There seems to be no true supervision in the classroom.  I have observed this fact first hand.  The teacher pleads with the children to sit down, be quiet, pay attention, keep their hands to themselves, etc. and the children rarely heed her instructions.   My grievance with what has been going on within the class rooms is that there seems to be no connection between the teachers and the students.  When I observe my son's class the teacher seems to be detached from the children.  It's almost as if she is on autopilot.  I graduated from high school in 2001 and I must say that as I remember it, things were the same then.  We floated from class to class listening to what might as well have been a recorded lecture.  There was no feeling in the majority of my teachers.  Some even went as far as to say that they were only there because they had no other options.

I believe that those who teach play a vital role in the development of our children's lives.  It is the primary obligation of parents to teach their children right from wrong.  When a child goes to school they learn how to interact with others.  They learn what is socially acceptable and are given the opportunity to practice those things.  It is the duty of the teacher to educate our most impressionable and valuable assets.  The difference that a teacher can make in the lives of their students is something that is so special. 

Is there anybody out there who may be experiencing the same issues that I am?  If so, how have you been dealing with them?