This is SUCH a problem for me, too

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Home : 2001 : November : 15

This is SUCH a problem for me, too
By Teacher, not a personal aide

Personally, I was offended for myself and other teachers by Austin's comment. HE obviously has never had a child like the one described, or maybe he has better support in dealing with such a child than we do.

In my case,
the child's (fifth grader) behavior is NOT MY FAULT. His parents refuse to get him diagnosed, despite suggestions by the school psychologist and the RSP teacher that he has ADHD. The boy CANNOT function in a regular classroom. He goes for special help in the morning (best hour of the day) and comes back in screaming, disturbing the whole class and throwing some students off. He

won't sit and do his work. He has a high-pitched scream, which he makes in the hall and the classroom. He argues when I try to make him work. Whenever we go someplace, such as the library or a field trip, I have to be this child's personal aide. Sometimes I have to hold his hand. I have to follow him around and verbally guide (sometimes to the point of arguing) him through everything. Otherwise he will wander away, scream and yell, or do something to disturb and embarass us all. In the classroom his does vicious things like loudly insult other students, dig through another teacher's stuff, or erase everything I've written on the overhead. When he is absent, the other students cheer because he is so disturbing to them.

We have tried positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, contracts, parent meetings ... you name it. The child seems to make no connection between his behavior and rewards/consequences. The other teachers and adults who deal with him all agree that SOMETHING IS WRONG. They know he can't function in a regular classroom. Unfortunately, there appears to be no place else for him. Mom refuses to do anything for him. It's even suspected she took the kid out of another school because they wanted to give him an IEP. She believes God will solve the kid's problems, rather than following the old adage, "God helps those who help themselves."

I have enough problems with this child without having fellow teachers tell me this is all my fault. Yes, ADHD is overdiagnosed, but you know what? Some kids really have it. Come to my classroom ... I'll show you the proof.