I hate losing my voice
I lost it about 1/2 way through the day yesterday...which is OH, so much fun when you're a teacher. Ugh. It was pretty funny, though because in every class there were a couple of kids who felt sorry enough for my pathetic sounding voice that they'd kind of take over and get other kids' attention when I needed it. Overall, though, they were pretty good...and listened the 1st time I said things.
One of my autistic kids even tried comforting me. He asked what happened to my voice, and I said I was getting sick. He said "I lost my voice one time when I got sick. Don't worry, it'll come back." That's just amazing empathy from an autistic kid. That's ok, though...because I made my other autistic kid cry yesterday. I'm talking sobs, big old tears, snot running down - all because I wouldn't let him take his project home. He crys anytime he doesn't get his way, and he's too old for that shit. Autistic or not, he's too old for it. I could have easily caved in, but everyone always caves in when he crys...he's learning to use it to get his way. I'm so mean.
Speaking of students, I found out yesterday that one of my new students is psycho. Literally. Well, we don't know for sure because her parents refuse any kind of testing. I know within a day or 2 of working w/ her that something wasn't right about her. I emailed the counselor to ask if there was any special ed paperwork that I just hadn't gotten yet. I wasn't the only one to ask...so he called her previous school to find out if it just hadn't been transferred or something. Turns out, she's got a violent history: has threatened teachers and students, has stabbed students with pencils, gets extremely attached to anyone who talks to her and begins to stalk them, has zero respect for authority, and so on. Her last school was in the process of transferring her to the alternative school when her parents packed up and moved so she could be in another district. There seems to be a history of this - that anytime a school finally gets enough documentation to get her out of mainstream classes, her parents pick up and move. Aaaaaand, to top it all off, they are completely denying that she's had any history of trouble in school - acting like we're making it all up, because "she's never had problems before." Gotta love parents that are so in denial that they're letting their child turn into a psycho. Seems to me that this should constitute some form of child neglect...refusing to test her so she can get the services she needs. Even if it is, I'm doubtful that anyone could prove it, because they move anytime someone gets close to that.
So, anyway...this girl is in my ART class. I'm supposed to lock up all "potential weapons" including obvious things like xacto knives, but also things like scissors and SHARP PENCILS!!! I'm supposed to keep her completely isolated, and not even let her have PENCILS!!! IN AN ART CLASS!!! WTF???? I've already complained to the AP about having her in my class. She's too dangerous. I want her out. This is ridiculous.
One of my autistic kids even tried comforting me. He asked what happened to my voice, and I said I was getting sick. He said "I lost my voice one time when I got sick. Don't worry, it'll come back." That's just amazing empathy from an autistic kid. That's ok, though...because I made my other autistic kid cry yesterday. I'm talking sobs, big old tears, snot running down - all because I wouldn't let him take his project home. He crys anytime he doesn't get his way, and he's too old for that shit. Autistic or not, he's too old for it. I could have easily caved in, but everyone always caves in when he crys...he's learning to use it to get his way. I'm so mean.
Speaking of students, I found out yesterday that one of my new students is psycho. Literally. Well, we don't know for sure because her parents refuse any kind of testing. I know within a day or 2 of working w/ her that something wasn't right about her. I emailed the counselor to ask if there was any special ed paperwork that I just hadn't gotten yet. I wasn't the only one to ask...so he called her previous school to find out if it just hadn't been transferred or something. Turns out, she's got a violent history: has threatened teachers and students, has stabbed students with pencils, gets extremely attached to anyone who talks to her and begins to stalk them, has zero respect for authority, and so on. Her last school was in the process of transferring her to the alternative school when her parents packed up and moved so she could be in another district. There seems to be a history of this - that anytime a school finally gets enough documentation to get her out of mainstream classes, her parents pick up and move. Aaaaaand, to top it all off, they are completely denying that she's had any history of trouble in school - acting like we're making it all up, because "she's never had problems before." Gotta love parents that are so in denial that they're letting their child turn into a psycho. Seems to me that this should constitute some form of child neglect...refusing to test her so she can get the services she needs. Even if it is, I'm doubtful that anyone could prove it, because they move anytime someone gets close to that.
So, anyway...this girl is in my ART class. I'm supposed to lock up all "potential weapons" including obvious things like xacto knives, but also things like scissors and SHARP PENCILS!!! I'm supposed to keep her completely isolated, and not even let her have PENCILS!!! IN AN ART CLASS!!! WTF???? I've already complained to the AP about having her in my class. She's too dangerous. I want her out. This is ridiculous.