"Hire a tutor" said the Algebra teacher

[missypie]

I guess my point is that she has not tried to spend even an extra moment with him, not in class or otherwise. She heard he was "special ed" and said "Hire a tutor."

He has an IEP but has never needed one for academic subjects before. I sincerely doubt that they would give him any special academic help because he is taking all pre-AP and GT classes. Special help is given so that the 8th grade Downs Syndrome child can learn her math facts, not so an 8th grader with Asperger's Syndrome can succeed at 9th grade Algebra.

 

[jmmom80]

then it sounds like he is getting a free and appropriate education.

 

[missyc]

IF the teacher is doing her job in the classroom, then I agree that she shouldn't have to stay after for free. But I DO feel that it is the responsability of the district to provide him with the tutoring needed whether it is during regular school hours or after school.
And I don't feel the OP's son is the "typical" special ed kid that some of you may be picturing. That algebra teacher had her mind made up that she wasn't puting up anything extra for this boy before that meeting was even over.
He has a diagnosis. No matter the level of severity the law says that they must accomidate him and the parents will have to make them abide.
You are your son's only advocate.

 

[missyc]

Oh, I just realized that he is working above grade level. In that case I guess they wouldn't have to provide the tutoring for free.
But I still say the teacher made up her mind too soon.

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by missypie
Well about 2 hours after the meeting was over we got an email from the algebra teacher (it's 8th grade preAP math) saying "Hire a tutor." In context, it seemed like she was thinking "I don't know what a special ed student is doing in my preAP class, but I'M sure as heck not going to do anything extra for him."

That's putting an awful lot of words in someone's mouth, IMO! Have you spoken to the math teacher in person (as opposed to e-mail, where communication can sometimes be misinterpreted) to try and determine if that's the actual case, or are you just being really defensive about your son and the fact that you believe he's being slighted? If the teacher did, in fact, wash her hands of your son because of the special ed connection, that's a punishable offense in most school systems -- that's discrimination. If you don't know for certain that that's the case, you may want to talk to the teacher before you assume that. The teacher may have very legitimate reasons why she feels she'd be less suited to help your son than a one-on-one tutor.

 

[Cindy B]

Unless the IEP specifically specifies it, the teacher does not or can not do one on one.

The OP stated that her son is 12/13, right? Thats middle school age.

In my middle school, the teachers have 4 to 5 classes of math, with at least 25 /30 kids in each class. So the math teacher has at least a 100 students if not more. Well, lets put it this way, the newly hired fresh out of school math teachers have 100 students, the more veteran teachers get 125 students.

In this math class of 20/30 you have a varying range of abilities. There are some special education students in the class with an inclusion plan. If they are special ed, you would have an aide or special ed teacher walking around helping. My classes were at the max of 9 inclusion kids last year. So I personally helped 9 kids, by law. In a 40 minute math period, those 9 kids did not get much individual time--maybe three/four minutes a piece.

THere is also a pull out instructional math class, for some students. Those students needs lots of help to even attain grade level.

As for hiring a tutor, thats a great idea. I did not do well in algebra, until I hit college.

I would ask the OP to check her childs IEP. If the IEP states math instruction, she needs to be her childs advocate , and get it. If he does not have it on the IEP, the OP can speak to someone regarding it.

And contractually, the teachers in my school can not stay after 3 pm. The teachers, and aides for that matter, are only allowed to have before school help, and "lunch time" help.

 

[CRB#33]

As far as the teacher is concerned, it is a good possibility she does not have her certificate in Special Education. Some teachers have a problem working with SE kids and worry about whether or not they are appropriately meeting the special requirements that this child may need.

You're much better off getting him individualized help in this case. The teacher probably recognized this immediately, but her brashneses does leave something to be desired.

 

[year2late]

Missy, I think in context of what you posted , I would have thought the teacher was expressing frustration with lack of time rather than lack of willingness to help a "special ed" child.

Teachers are being stretched to the limit.If they take too much extra time in class with a struggling student, the rest of the class may suffer. I actually commend the teacher for making it clear early on that she did not have the time for extra help.

 

[TnKrBeLlA012]

I do believe a teacher should be paid for her time. What I struggled with is the fact that she was the teacher who during school hours was being paid to teach her. So because she wasen't catching on I had to pay her for the extra time after school. That really isn't fair to me or my child.The fact of the matter is there are some excellent teachers but there are also ones who don't want to be bothered by the kids who struggle. If you are a parent who dosen't have the money for a tutor I guess the child is out of luck. I always watched when my kids were in school. The teacher always loved the kids who caught on right away. Granted not all teachers are like that but in my 12yrs I have witnessed it more than I'd like to think.

 

[missypie]

As the OP, I'm sort of stunned by the fairly unified opinion that teachers don't have a responsibility to make sure all kids pick up on what they are teaching. I guess kids in public schools whose parents can't afford tutors are out of luck. I've always been a firm believer in sending my kids in public schools, but after reading most of your views, I can see why almost all of my friends who have kids with any special needs send them to private schools.

 

[caitycaity]

i had a lot of problems with math in high school. the teacher really tried to help me (afterschool), but my learning style and her tecahing style just didn't mesh. my parents found a tutor who would tutor in small groups (it wasn't as expensive that way). the tutor was able to explain things in way that i more easily understood and i was able to get through all my math requirements by working with her.

it wasn't that the teacher gave up or wasn't trying, it's just that it wasn't working.

regardless of your philosophical beliefs about public school, sometimes you need to do what is best for your child.

my parents and i are big supporters of public schooling, but in any school (public or private) sometimes students need more than the teacher can offer. that doesn't make the teacher bad or the student dumb.

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by missypie
As the OP, I'm sort of stunned by the fairly unified opinion that teachers don't have a responsibility to make sure all kids pick up on what they are teaching. I guess kids in public schools whose parents can't afford tutors are out of luck. I've always been a firm believer in sending my kids in public schools, but after reading most of your views, I can see why almost all of my friends who have kids with any special needs send them to private schools.

Well, I work in a public school system wiht special ed students. We have only what the budget allows. We have so many special ed students, we need to institute ratios, hire aides, and have tutors come into the classroom.

But the special ed teachers work thier tales off! They work through every lunch, meet before school, and even after school -- (although contractually they are not allowed). They put thier job on the line to meet with students after school. They actually get permission from guidance counselors to pull them from non academic/non graded subjects like gym to give them special instruction on a short term basis.

Plus the special ed techers have to work with social workers, speech therapists, administrators, guidance counselors, school psychologists, and other support staff on a DAILY BASIS!

They get called names, hit, spit on, cursed at daily. These kids have the lowest grades in the school, and with the NCLB act, grades do matter now. They need to modify every lesson for every student for their ability. Some need oral tests, some can't speak, some have mobility issues (like manuevering a wheelchair into a small classroom). When you have 29 students in 14 different classes, you can't be everywhere.

The public school special ed teachers I work with, work thier tales off and then some. And they geniuenly care for the kids. I've seen them cry for them, work with them, and get so excited even when a child can understand one digit addition (in a 6th grade classroom).

This a public school in NJ.

They have the patience of Job.

 

[missypie]

Originally posted by Cindy B


The public school special ed teachers I work with, work their tails off and then some. And they geniuenly care for the kids. I've seen them cry for them, work with them, and get so excited even when a child can understand one digit addition (in a 6th grade classroom). They have the patience of Job.

I agree that the special ed folks are great...they - and the school psychologist - are our only advocates when ARD time comes. It's the regular ed teachers that can be the problem. They don't have the background or training to teach kids with disabilities, but because the law mandates inclusion, they have to teach kids with disabilities. It's really not fair to either side. So far, most of DS's teachers have been great.

 

[missyc]

I think that is the dedication most expect of every teacher. Never gonna happen! There aren't many people who have the patience that these teachers have! And they are over-looked too often.

(My aunt worked with deaf and blind children. She taught at Helen Keller's school and met her too!)

 

[lulugirl]

Originally posted by TnKrBeLlA012
I forgot to add in my last post. I once even paid the teacher that taught my daughter,to tutor her after school. Just thinking about it now makes me think how sad that was. I have to pay the teacher?

So, teachers should work overtime for free? Are you serious?

 

[Toby'sFriend]

So, teachers should work overtime for free? Are you serious?

Most Professionals do work overtime for free.


When my oldest son was in 7th grade he had an Ex-Marine Drill Sgt. as his teacher. He tutored before school, during lunch, after school -- you name it. Sometimes he would call our house in the evening and bark "Your son needs work! Have him at school at 7am!!!!" and all any of us could say was "Yes Sir!"

In 8th grade, not so good and we did hire a tutor for our son and we signed him up for a small Algebra class at the local Community College over the summer. He is doing much better this year.

Math is just hard for some kids. I feel for them, it never came very easy for me either.

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by missypie
As the OP, I'm sort of stunned by the fairly unified opinion that teachers don't have a responsibility to make sure all kids pick up on what they are teaching. I guess kids in public schools whose parents can't afford tutors are out of luck. I've always been a firm believer in sending my kids in public schools, but after reading most of your views, I can see why almost all of my friends who have kids with any special needs send them to private schools.

As many have said, teachers have full classrooms with kids of varying abilities. They have to teach to the group as a whole and hope that the slower kids can pick it up eventually (or get the help they need) and that the smarter kids either find an AP class or don't get too bored. They do what one-on-one can be done, but it's unreasonable to expect that they have the time or materials to help each child to the full extent of their understanding. In a perfect world, every class would have 10 or 15 kids and the teacher could spend a lot of one-on-one time with them and everyone would totally understand everything, but that's not how it is in most schools.

I think the teacher has a responsibility to do their best to teach the class and then report to the parents if a specific child is not getting it. This teacher did that, when it would have been just as easy to not mention it and let your son slip by with lower grades. But once it's mentioned, it's then the parent's job, IMO, to work with the teacher to find the additional help that child needs. In your initial post, you said that your family aren't math brains and that you can't help him. Then it seems logical that a tutor would be the next choice. If not ... have you considered putting him in a less demanding math class where he's not likely to struggle so?

It seems that you're waiting for the teacher to solve the problem -- that you expect her to do whatever it takes to make your son understand this subject and that it's her responsibility solely. But it needs to be a combined effort between your family, the teacher, and whatever outside help is needed. Maybe you or someone else in your family could sit in with the tutor too, so that you can maybe better understand the subject and are better able to help your son.

 

[year2late]

Originally posted by missypie
As the OP, I'm sort of stunned by the fairly unified opinion that teachers don't have a responsibility to make sure all kids pick up on what they are teaching. I guess kids in public schools whose parents can't afford tutors are out of luck. I've always been a firm believer in sending my kids in public schools, but after reading most of your views, I can see why almost all of my friends who have kids with any special needs send them to private schools.

Is it your assertion that it is the responsibility of the school district to fund help for your child until he "gets" every subject?
I think the teacher asking for you to retain the services of a tutor to be a low level sort of request.

Maybe a proactive thing would be to get the PTA to help fund/organize a math club or homework club. Our town has "community service " requirements for the older kids. One of the things that they do is help tutor other kids to fullfill their community service requirement. It is win/win all around.

 

[Gupsmom]

Wow... I'm sort of surprised. My DH is a math teacher. The only time he ever turns away a child that asks for extra help is if that kid doesn't put in any effort...a total screw off. If a child, for the most part, does his homework and pays attention in class, my DH would gladly give him/her the extra attention. As a matter of fact he'd be thrilled to see the kid show the effort and look for extra help. He'd go in early, stay after, or use a free period to help a struggling child. I guess I never thought of this as a rare quality among teachers.

That being said, if my child was struggling and I could afford it, I'd hire a tutor. Especially in math. If you fall behind in math, you're sunk. Every new concept builds on the skills you're supposed to have already learned.

Jess

 

[kadaten]

Former special ed teaher here. Most issues have been covered here, but I wanted to add one little tidbit regarding whether the child is receiving the free and appropriate education mandated by law....

In our state, talented and gifted needs were not covered under IDEA or FAPE regulations......so, the Asperger's elements of this child's disability would be covered by the IEP, BUT, the need for tutoring to succeed in advanced classes would not have been. Maybe that's the same in the poster's state, and why it's not covered on their IEP....

My kids were preschool age, and therefore in no way able to stay after for extra help. BUT, I do know I would have helped after hours, to a point, but if it's a general "not clicking" rather than just one concept the child needed help on, I think I would recommend tutoring, too. Sometimes it does take that extra time, attention, and another viewpoint, and if the child wants the challenge of the advanced class, then that might be what's needed.

Good luck to you and your son!