Activity 4.3:
The Child:
Today was my first day at my new school. I really didn't want to leave my other school. My best friend, Lori, was in my class there. Every Friday we could bring toys in to share, and Lori would always let me play with her toy before circle time. Since it was my very first day at this new school, my mom let me bring in my stuffed Elmo for naptime and my pirates for Show and Tell. No on wanted to play with me. All of the kids kept asking me what was wrong with my ears. I tried to hide my ears with my hat, but they would try to peak a look underneath it. I pushed one of them away, and he fell and cried. My teacher told me that I needed to learn how to be nice to my friends. She made me go and sit on the bench. I heard my teacher tell another lady on the playground that I must have ben in an accident. The other lady said that good parents are more careful with their children around fire. I didn't like that other lady. She is not my real teacher and she doesn't smile. They said she was the mean teacher. When I got off the bench I decided I should just play with the balls and not the other children. I don't think I like these kids and I'm not going to play with them. At lunchtime my teacher took away my peanut butter and jelly sandwich because she said it wasn't allowed. I cried. I had to sit at a table all by myself and eat my sandwich because I wouldn't eat the cracker and cheese that they gave me. I only wanted the sandwich my mom made me. At naptime I got my Elmo doll out of my cubby and took him to my cot. The mean lady took Elmo away from me. She said stuffed animals weren't allowed and she put him in a plastic bag. I wish it was pickup time so I could go home. I want my mom!
The Mother:
I arrived at my son's school today to discover that his medical and educational records had been transferred from his old school to the director of this school. The director said she had a lengthy conversation with the teacher from Eric's old school about some of the behavioral problems he was having in the classroom. I had hoped to discuss some of the physical limitations prior to his enrollment. There was some personal information on his records that I didn't want revealed. The director seemed to have everything under control and assured me that she had managed lots of other children with equally as bad behavioral problems and even had seen a child once with his same physical disability. She also suggested that from what she heard from his teacher, he seemed to be showing some signs of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and asked if I had ever considered that as a possibility. She had even looked the disorder up the Internet and gave me three pages of ways to test Eric at home. Since she seemed to know more than I do about the topic I decided to leave it alone. She took me to meet his new teacher, Ms. Laura. Ms. Laura offered me one of the children's chairs to sit down in as she stood and told me all of the things she would be teaching Eric. His teacher looked familiar to me. I remembered seeing her at the restaurant the night before. She had been sitting with a group of women talking about 'Katie getting bit by Jason in my class today.' She had added: 'There must be problems at home because he never has done anything like that before. I also heard that Jason's dad had lost his job.' I was a little embarrassed that I had overheard her conversation.
The Teacher:
The director came in last week to tell me about a new boy named Eric who would be joining my class. She gave me all his records, so I prepared his cubby tag, added his name on the sign-in list, and posted his telephone number on the family bulletin board. I wanted to give him a jump on making arrangements for play dates with the other children. Laura told me that he was a biter, so at drop-off time I'm going to tell the other parents. I want them to be prepared for what they should expect when he comes to play at their houses. I hope the mother feels comfortable when she sees how prepared we are for his arrival. I think Laura always gives me the children with family problems. I hope she feels good with the bad kids. I told the other teachers during lunch in the staff room that it was their turn to have these kids in their class.
I noticed that there were a lot of blanks on Eric's transfer forms. On my class sign-in and sign-out form I left a section for the father's name blank, as there was none listed on Eric's registration form. They must have forgotten to fill in all the blanks, so I posted it on the door and highlighted that part so I would remember to ask them when I see them. When Eric's mother stopped by the classroom today, I told her that I wouldn't be there at pick-up time, but I would always let the high school aide know how Eric's day had been and she would report to her. There was a big sigh in the mother's voice when I asked her to fill in the father's name and on what days her would be dropping off.
- How was the confidentiality code violated with the mother?
- First the teacher should have never put his private information on the table for all to see
- Second the director had no right to get her hands on the childs file from the previous school and read it and discuss it with the mother
- How was the confidentiality code violated with the child?
- The teacher shouldn't have put his private file on the table
- The director never should have suggested a ADHD possibility
- Do you think there should have been a discussion between the two directors concerning Eric's disability prior to his enrollment?
- No, that should have not been discussed. It's about the parent/child confidentiality
- Who should have been included in this meeting?
- Parent/Teacher/Director should have a private and positive meeting to discuss the plans for the best available learning environment
- Do you think a conversation with Eric's classmates would have been helpful?
- If the teacher know that he/she is about to get another classmate with a learning/physical disability then there should be a conversation with the class about diversity and acceptance
- List some methods that might have eased Eric's transition to his new school.
- Have greeting activities, transitions and games. Even let Eric use his Elmo
- How do you feel about the teacher's conversation at the restaurant?
- That is totally unprofessional and should never be discussed
- What if the conversation happened in the staff lounge at the center?
- It doesn't matter. That is totally unprofessional and should never be discussed
- As a director, is there anything you could do to rectify this situation?
- Not really. Once a boundary has been crossed then there is no way back
- Do you think the mother should leave her child in that school?
- No, I would move Eric to a school that I felt was more professional and non-judgmental
- Explain you reasons for not moving Eric again.
- Allowing Eric to establish and maintain structure and routines
