Comments on: Bullying http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2007/07/bullying/ A view of autism from along the spectrum Thu, 16 Oct 2008 07:01:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Sharon Hollenbeck http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2007/07/bullying/#comment-7258 Sharon Hollenbeck Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:46:16 +0000 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2007/07/bullying/#comment-7258 I"m not sure if this is the right place to start, as this has nothing to to do with Special Education. However, I am a 4 year teacher and am for the second time, considering leaving the Education field due to it's viciousness. Administrators also are bullies to Teachers. I had a very horrible experience with a powerful one last year who the district supported fully knowing the people she'd hurt and destroyed. It was not enough for me to give my resignation mid year, then she used the help of her "Younger-staff" that she had molded to literally make my life a living hell til the end of the year. These can be some powerful people who can't seem to be stopped. I believe the public should be made aware that they do exist and these individuals should be held accountable for their "bad" modeling and inapproperiate behavior, the same way a teacher would. This is why a lot of good teachers leave the education field. No Accountability!!! I”m not sure if this is the right place to start, as this has nothing to to do with Special Education. However, I am a 4 year teacher and am for the second time, considering leaving the Education field due to it’s viciousness. Administrators also are bullies to Teachers. I had a very horrible experience with a powerful one last year who the district supported fully knowing the people she’d hurt and destroyed. It was not enough for me to give my resignation mid year, then she used the help of her “Younger-staff” that she had molded to literally make my life a living hell til the end of the year. These can be some powerful people who can’t seem to be stopped. I believe the public should be made aware that they do exist and these individuals should be held accountable for their “bad” modeling and inapproperiate behavior, the same way a teacher would. This is why a lot of good teachers leave the education field. No Accountability!!!

]]> By: Lee Desmarais-Moitoso http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2007/07/bullying/#comment-6971 Lee Desmarais-Moitoso Sun, 22 Jul 2007 19:30:22 +0000 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2007/07/bullying/#comment-6971 HERE! HERE! HAT'S OFF TO YOU FOR THIS POST. I worked as an administrative assistant to the SpEd director in my school district for 7 years. When he retired (at 74 yrs) they bought in a new person (20 yrs younger) who gave me a directive to lie to parents, lying through omission and through "dummying-up" on the dissemination of regulations and law. I resigned 18 days after she started and decided to put my 7 years experience to far better use...helping parents as an educational advocate. Just when I think that I have seen everything I am yet once again apalled by the lying and antics of SpEd Directors. I swear being an ass is a pre-requisite for the job. At least it seems that way in MA. Parents do not allow these administrators to bully you, they are very small people on very BIG power trips and they think that parents aren't in the "know" knowledge is power, arm yourselves well and prepare for battle!!! Anyone can feel free to email me and parents everywhere...please visit my website http://treehouseadvocacy.gogglepages.com and share with your friends. Good Luck to all of you! Warmest Regards, Lee HERE! HERE! HAT’S OFF TO YOU FOR THIS POST. I worked as an administrative assistant to the SpEd director in my school district for 7 years. When he retired (at 74 yrs) they bought in a new person (20 yrs younger) who gave me a directive to lie to parents, lying through omission and through “dummying-up” on the dissemination of regulations and law. I resigned 18 days after she started and decided to put my 7 years experience to far better use…helping parents as an educational advocate. Just when I think that I have seen everything I am yet once again apalled by the lying and antics of SpEd Directors. I swear being an ass is a pre-requisite for the job. At least it seems that way in MA. Parents do not allow these administrators to bully you, they are very small people on very BIG power trips and they think that parents aren’t in the “know” knowledge is power, arm yourselves well and prepare for battle!!! Anyone can feel free to email me and parents everywhere…please visit my website http://treehouseadvocacy.gogglepages.com and share with your friends. Good Luck to all of you!
Warmest Regards,
Lee

]]> By: Shawn http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2007/07/bullying/#comment-6963 Shawn Fri, 20 Jul 2007 00:47:06 +0000 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2007/07/bullying/#comment-6963 Wade Rankin has posted <a href="http://injectingsense.blogspot.com/2007/07/question-to-district-203-have-you-no.html" rel="nofollow">a very detailed story</a> story on his <a href="http://injectingsense.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">blog</a> about a district that doesn't seem at all ashamed of their bullying. Wade Rankin has posted a very detailed story story on his blog about a district that doesn’t seem at all ashamed of their bullying.

]]> By: Jerry Grasso http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2007/07/bullying/#comment-6954 Jerry Grasso Wed, 18 Jul 2007 14:57:00 +0000 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2007/07/bullying/#comment-6954 We hire an advocate to help us better communicate, record, and stand up for our rights that we are aware, and not aware, of in these meetings. She's great - she's a former teacher, so she knows her way around the rules/roadmap..... We hire an advocate to help us better communicate, record, and stand up for our rights that we are aware, and not aware, of in these meetings. She’s great - she’s a former teacher, so she knows her way around the rules/roadmap…..

]]> By: Rose http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2007/07/bullying/#comment-6946 Rose Tue, 17 Jul 2007 00:03:17 +0000 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2007/07/bullying/#comment-6946 I was on one side of the table for 9 years. Last year, I became a professional educator (finally used my degree.) The teachers who were worth their salt talked to the parents beforehand to see if there was something special they wanted. This is very uncommon, but I wish someone had once asked me before I signed... Having an advocate helps, especially someone who has walked the same road before you. Having said all this, I realize too that some teachers give their students FAR more than the IEP recognizes, and some give the least they are able to get by with. It is only a piece of paper, although it is a legal document. It will not make a poor teacher good. I was on one side of the table for 9 years. Last year, I became a professional educator (finally used my degree.) The teachers who were worth their salt talked to the parents beforehand to see if there was something special they wanted. This is very uncommon, but I wish someone had once asked me before I signed…

Having an advocate helps, especially someone who has walked the same road before you.

Having said all this, I realize too that some teachers give their students FAR more than the IEP recognizes, and some give the least they are able to get by with.

It is only a piece of paper, although it is a legal document. It will not make a poor teacher good.

]]> By: VAB http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2007/07/bullying/#comment-6944 VAB Mon, 16 Jul 2007 03:40:20 +0000 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2007/07/bullying/#comment-6944 Something I found really useful was role-playing the meeting with our advocates before hand. Also, it's good to have an agenda so that, if important things are not dealt with, you can tell the administrator at the end of the meeting and request a follow-up then and there. Something I found really useful was role-playing the meeting with our advocates before hand. Also, it’s good to have an agenda so that, if important things are not dealt with, you can tell the administrator at the end of the meeting and request a follow-up then and there.

]]> By: Joeymom http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2007/07/bullying/#comment-6943 Joeymom Mon, 16 Jul 2007 03:09:54 +0000 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2007/07/bullying/#comment-6943 I also recommend taping. In most places, if you send a letter stating that you will be tape-recording all meetings, and provide your own equipment, you can tape-record the meeting. Carefully archive your tapes- you may need them. I also recommend taping. In most places, if you send a letter stating that you will be tape-recording all meetings, and provide your own equipment, you can tape-record the meeting. Carefully archive your tapes- you may need them.

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