5th grade field trip

[minkydog]

Two weeks ago, the fifth grade teachers invited Christian to go on the end-of-year Fifth Grade field trip It's just a day trip up to the mountains, panning for gold, visiting a museum and going to a state park to see some nature exhibits. He will love it! Christian may be mentally handicapped but he loves to GO

Well, today the school nurse informed me that "there is talk" about the trip--namely about Christian. The teachers don't want him to go. Not because he's mentally ********, but because he has a seizure disorder. Never mind that he has never had a seizure in school in the last 5 yrs. Never mind that his beloved parapro, Mr.Tom, who knows him like a book, will be with him at all times. They just don't want him, period.

This makes me so sad. Christian will have a wonderful time riding the bus and engaging in all the energy. He loves to walk around and see new things, even though he can't talk. The nurse is as upset as i am.She's going to talk to her supervisor and they will probably approve a nurse to go, but I feel like it's just feeding their fear. Christian goes everywhere with us. Sure, he has had some seizures, mostly at night. But so have some of the other "normal" kids. And he's better behaved than a lot of them

Every now & then his "differentness" jumps up and bites me in the butt

 

[kristen821]

Can you be a chaparone maybe? I am sorry that they are acting like that.

 

[RobInBigKC]

Hope everything works out for your son. Could a nurse ride along indiscreetly (i.e., as part of the set of teachers / adult helpers)? Would his or her presence upset your son? If yes to the first question and/or no to the second one, this might not be a bad compromise. I definitely don't think it's ok to tell him he can't go!

to you and him both.

-- Rob

 

[Lachesis00]

Well thats rude. Invite him and then someone backtracks. Obviously someone really wanted him to go. And if he has his parapro... I think it is wonderful they invited him!

 

[minkydog]

Well, Christian won't be upset if the nurse goes, I just don't think it's necessary. It just serves to set him apart even more than he already is(he'll be the only one in diapers ). Since his parapro is going I didn't offer to go and I really don't think I need to--This is a big boy trip. Nobody elses mom is going.

Mr. Tom the parapro escorts him on short field trips that they do with his class and does just fine. He is trained and has dealt with seizures in other kids many times, just not with Christian. I have talked with him & the nurse and told them that if Christian seizes to just call 911 and have them deal with it (his seizures, when he does have them, are very long--4-12 minutes ) They are okay with that, it's the fifth grade teachers who are alarmed.

It hurts my feelings to hear that they don't want him. I'm sure it will all work out, but it's little things like this that just serve to remind me ONCE AGAIN that my son is not a normal kid

 

[AtlantaSue]

Just wanted to say that I was really sad to read your post ---I'm sorry this happened to you. I really don't think the nurse should have even told you-- she and the parapro should have confronted the disgruntled teachers and set them straight.

I'll be sending prayers and happy thoughts to Christian today!

 

[MeMom]

Please don't be sad. Maybe the words just got twisted. "There is talk" is kind of vague. They probably just want to be sure they have all bases covered in being able to care for every conceivable need he might have in an away from school situation. I teach third grade, and the only reason I would ever not want a child to go on a field trip is if I didn't feel I could control his/her behavior issues out in a public situation. We have left children behind, with great sadness, because they just could not or would not behave, and we could not risk them either doing damage to a place we visited, running away from us, or ruining the trip for the other students in some way. If the teachers invited him, they probably do want him to go, but they just want to be sure they have every available avenue of caring for his needs. The nurse could go and just hang out with the teachers. He/She doesn't have to hover over your son. Why don't you go and talk to them? Maybe you'll feel better, and maybe they will, too. It is a great privilege to be considered to be responsible to care for other people's treasures, as that is what children are, but it is also a huge responsibility. I would just want to be sure I had all of Christian's needs met, so that hopefully nothing could happen to him in any way that we weren't prepared to deal with. Quite honestly, I wish we could take a nurse on all of our field trips, just for an extra safety factor. I hope I've helped some. I encourage you to talk to a teacher you feel comfortable with. Please let us know what happens.

 

[Cindy B]

Aren't you a nurse? Can't you say you will chaperone since you have nursing experience?


My district has a few students that have similiar seizure issues. If the student goes anywhere, (field trip, out to job site, annual end of year banquet, etc.) a nurse is with the student. Some students have their own nurse all the time as part of their IEP.

Either the school nurse comes on the trip or a substitute school nurse is called in specifically for the trip.

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

I don't have any real advice for you. Just empathy. It hurt my feelings a little bit for you to read that. I'd be heartbroken for my child in the same situation.

 

[Scutapipig]

Sending wishes it will all work out.

We deal with this on rare occasions with my son and I completely understand what you're feeling.

 

[minkydog]

Just wanted to say that I was really sad to read your post ---I'm sorry this happened to you. I really don't think the nurse should have even told you-- she and the parapro should have confronted the disgruntled teachers and set them straight.

I totally agree. This would be a great time for the nurse to do some in-service and calm the teachers. They're not a bad lot, they're just scared. (Why is it that people say things like this? It's like spreading gossip and it only served to make me upset. it didn't solve anything)

Aren't you a nurse? Can't you say you will chaperone since you have nursing experience?

Yes, I am a nurse and I'm sure I could chaperone, if I wanted to. That's the thing--I want him to go without his Mommy, like the big boys do. The more adults he has around him, the more he is set apart from the general population. I think he will be perfectly safe with Mr. Tom, who will take excellent care of him.

 

[LuvN~Travel]

We are kind of in the same boat but for its for church functions. Our daughter does go on school field trips with no problem, and the school doesn't have a problem with it, especially if her paraprofessional is there as well.
However, there are times when she has not been on church trips with the kids or youth because we could not get the time off to go. We have chaperoned one trip to 6 Flags, while my mother went as a chaperone back when she was in the GAs (first though 6 grade girls) and went on their summer trip. Then just this December our kids went to Gatlinburg the day after Christmas. However, we did make sure my sister went as a chaperone this time. It's a tough decision sometimes. I know she doesn't like missing out on so much, but her going somewhere long distance without some family member along is a bit much for us.

I'm surpised that the school doesn't feel comfortable taking along your son, especially since it's been five years already. After all our dds last seizure was just last March! I think if nothing else at least I would see if I could volunteer this time, at least until they can make future arrangements without you for future trips.
Good luck!
Kim

 

[tiggerlover]

Your post breaks my heart and I truly empathize with your situation.

It hurts my feelings to hear that they don't want him. I'm sure it will all work out, but it's little things like this that just serve to remind me ONCE AGAIN that my son is not a normal kid

There are so many definitions of normal and there are so many "different" people in this world that normal can mean almost anything. Christian is normal for Christian and shame on those teachers for not recognizing that and embracing the notion of a young boy attending his 5th grade field trip. I am sorry they have hurt you like this and I truly hope there is a positive resolution for Christian.

 

[Hedy]

Good horking god, I'm sorry. That stinks for you and Christian. I hope things get straightened out.