Special Ed- Oh the drama!

I try hard not to post too many negative things about my kids schools... basically for the reason that at one, I am there ALOT... and two... most people already know the problems that go on there... haha!

Big Al is been in special services (aka Special Education) classes since the third grade. During the elementary years, we were able to get lots of help for him, as well as being able to really tweak things when they were obviously not working. The teachers there actually did this thing called LISTENING! They were awesome and I miss them!
On to middle school.... the special services have been far less than "special"! Actually, they have been a pain in the butt! I now call them "Stressful Services"!
Since the beginning of the year, the case worker for him has done pretty much the bare bones on what is needed to help Big Al succeed. We actually saw his reading level DROP in the fall. Not a pleasant thing one likes to see!

Since the beginning of his middle school career, we have talked to the teacher about how important it is for him to learn and have his skills improved for his own organization... meaning things like writing down homework daily, writing upcoming tests and projects on a calendar, etc... He has a WHOLE class period dedicated to this one area... and here we are... barely skimming by with D's and F's. Most of the D's and F's have been given due to either turning in work late, not at all, or doing really poor quality on a project.... all of which COULD have been assisted with the study skills class.

So last week... I get this phone call that he has received DETENTION! Not that it is a huge surprise... he has received a few for things like throwing his food (don't get me started on that one!) being tardy and a few other small things. So, when Big Al arrives home with the written referral of the how's and why's of detention, it is written as he did not have a pencil!
Yep - no pencil apparently is grounds for 2 hours of detention! That was THE final straw! So, before calling the school to tell them that he would have to finish his detention the next week, because of some scheduling challenges... I started to REALLY get worked up!

I realized that he was actually being punished for his "disability". I really do not like that word ONE bit - actually, I rarely EVER use that word when it comes to Big Al... he is what he is.

to be continued.....