ESE stands for Exceptional Student Education. Exceptional represents any thing other than “typical”. Emma is a ESE student because she is Autistic, among other things. For those of you who aren’t familiar with her story, you should read it.
Anyways.
We (the parents of autistic students in this county) have been battling talking with the school board of our county. The reason being is that the Teachers Union Contract is set up to where the best teachers who know the most about autism are being “bumped” for teachers who have the most “Seniority” (the teachers that have been there the longest, yet know nothing very little about how to treat and teach the autism spectrum student)
Case in point: Our county is going through a major budget cut, thus they have to let go of teachers. We have no problem with that, we understand that. What we don’t understand is the reasoning behind the teachers they are letting go. They are letting go over qualified teachers who have worked with Autism children because they “lack seniority”. They are keeping the older teachers who have 30 some odd years teaching in said county but do not know JACK anything about autism. “Autism” was not around back 30 years ago. They were considered mentally “retarded”. Furthermore, you have to have an “ESE” certification to teach “ESE” students. It is a $25 dollar online test, so I hear.
So, now we have all of these teachers (who are in fear of losing their jobs) rushing out to take this “ESE Certification” course (ya know, the one that only costs $25) not because they have a love for the special needs children (some do, I have no doubt!) but because they are in fear of losing their jobs. It is the ones that are doing it solely for the “I need a job” reason that scare me to death.
It would be like firing the VP of a Corporation who has had that position for two years and replacing him with the mail sorter who has been with the company for 30. It has absolutely nothing to do with education and experience (although the school board will tell you it does) and EVERYTHING to do with seniority.
It is just wrong.
You can not tell me that the online course tells you how to properly restrain an autistic child. You can not tell me that an online course tells you how to “speak in their native language” (PECS) You can not tell me that an online course makes you qualified to teach these children. MY CHILD.
And what about FAPE? FAPE stands for Free and Appropriate Public Education. It means, simply, that all school-aged children (Kindergarten through age 21) must receive a free public education that meets their needs.
Putting teachers with little to no “hands on” autism experience in a classroom with autistic children is not providing them with an education that meets their needs, I do not care that they have the “ESE Certification” (see above)… My only concern is my child, period.
Autism is a totally new ballgame. You stick someone who knows little to nothing about these children and you will have a room full of chaos and a teacher that will go crazy. Trust me. I live with an autistic child every day. I know how demanding it is. I love her so dearly, but I cannot imagine someone not knowing what they are doing stepping in and trying to get her to do ANYTHING. It just simply will not happen.
I know that the “Teachers Union Contract” is to protect the teachers. But what about the children? What about my autistic child? Does she even count in that “contract”?
I hope these children mean more than that piece of paper…
Autism is not “One Size Fits All”. It effects every child differently. Some are verbal, some aren’t. Some have behavior issues, some do not. But they all need a qualified teacher who LOVES her job and loves the autistic children that she is teaching. She isn’t doing for the money.
This isn’t “just a job” to her.
She considers every child in her classroom as one of her children.
That is the type of teacher we are fighting for. It is not asking much. We are not asking for more than what our children need deserve…
Heather – I am sure that you are already aware of this site, but just in case
http://www.wrightslaw.com/
I understand your fight – keep fighting!!! You may just be the parent who is heard!! KB
Two of our five children have disabilities (austism, cerebral palsy, hearing impairment, low vision, etc.). I admit that I gave up trying to fix our broken system and decided to teach the children myself, at home. I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart on behalf of children you will never know for your dedication to their best interests in public education. Take heart, faint not and do not grow weary in well-doing.
Dana~Are We There Yet?s last blog post..Did You Bring Your Brain? Can I Pick It Please?
As a retired special needs teacher, I echo your sentiments. I know you will not give up as an advocate for your child. Sometimes a parent not backing down is the tipping point for getting needed services.
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Hi Heather,
Have you heard of the group Aut 2B Home? Contact Tammy Glaser she has a lott of information, my daughter is autistic but I homeschool her. :0)
I have a dear friend who has a son who is a special needs child….(cerebral palsy) she was assured by a local school they had a sound special needs teacher…her son was left out during play time unattended….maybe that teacher was out eating lunch..her child fell and left to endure pain from fire ants (all over him)…not only pain of the ants… but for her to find another school who assured her they had a qualified teacher with an assitant..the assistant was laid off and the teacher moved to kindergarten….she was caring and loved special needs children…my friends only choice was to quit her job and homeschool..she knew nothing about homeschool. I keep him when ever I can so she can have SOME income for a few extras…the local goverment is too busy with other dumb things..how to keep historic buildings as in the Summerhouse on Siesta Key..I am sure tourists say let’s go to Florida to see the Summerhouse..in Sarasota well take a picture people, along with Frank Lloyd Wright houses.. bah take another picture and add it in a history book …stop this…does this make any sense?…I am mad and sad that all education is taking a back seat for other “worthy things”..Did this make any sense Heather?…I want to scream ..he is not autistic but also needs a qualified teacher who loves her/his position..
Are you aware of this blog – http://mommylife.net/
Barbara Curtis has several special needs children and has fought hard to make sure they are getting the education they need. She would be a good person to talk to and may be able to suggest additional resources.
Hi Heather, I don’t usually comment but I just wanted to say that I totally understand! I quit my job (because of a big move) as a tutor at a place called the Comprehensive Autism Program. I spent most of mornings going into classrooms working with different children and providing support to the teacher. There were a few teachers that we had a lot of problems with for this same reason. They were just thrown in there with no real training and we oftentimes had to step in and train THEM on how to handle different situations.
Many of our children who had grown leaps and bounds and had overcome many obstacles and behaviors were completely regressing and old behaviors were resurfacing. This was all due to these under qualified teachers being thrown into the classroom, throwing off the schedule, throwing off the routine, and not handling behaviors in the appropriate manner.
I hope things get worked out so the qualified teachers will be able to stay in the appropriate classrooms because it makes a world of difference when it comes to your daughter and all children with autism.
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AMEN! you so often speak the things i am thinking but in a much more effective way. i am very apprehensive about the teacher grace will have next year (1st grade) not that i think she is unable, i just don’t feel the compassion for the job coming out of her. i keep praying that i will have more peace about it.
keep on the good fight for emma! you are her biggest hero!
Keep fighting the good fight! So much of who stays/who goes ahd which programs stay/go is pure politics at its worst.
As an earlier commentor wrote, sometimes it’s the vocal parents that ultimately make the difference. One of my college professor just told us this morning that a nearby community “fired” their whole school board because of issues similar to this.
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Our school district was sued by the federal government about 10 years ago for not having sufficient and proper opportunities for special needs kids. I’m not sure who started it, but you may need to start something like that rolling!
As the mom of a boy with autism, I echo your same sentiments. Our district is doing cuts the same way.
And our state, well, they are cutting special needs services left and right. So frustrating. I applaud you advocating for Emma Grace.
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I think you already know how I feel about “It”… and about you, and the “Wonder Child”. I’m not too happy about “It”, I’m Crazy Proud about you two.
Dad
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There has to be a happy medium, imho. If the public schools are placing autistic children in mainstream classes, then there should be mandatory specialized training for teachers so they can effectively address the needs and IEP’s of their autistic students. THEN layoffs by seniority would be logical (and fair; senority should count as well, a logical reward for more time dedicated to one’s job).
If autistic children are in specialized classes, then layoffs should be within each group (mainstream teachers having one round of layoffs and specialized teachers have a seperate round). Again, jmho.
I have a son who I don’t think would be reading right now (11 years old) if not for his special ed teachers who have been teaching for more then 10 years. This made me so made. If they are complaining now about America’s children being behind, what do they think the future will look like if they cut back on public education. I can only guess.
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I was that teacher who lost her job due to budget cuts… I had to take a yr off anyway so I could care for my own special needs child but did consider my students my own. I began as an ESE IA to get experience and had a degree in education and social work, took the certification tests and the many CPI hold trainings, Autism workshops, etc. I taught the teachers how to include special needs students into their classroom, we call it inclusion some call it mainstreaming. I made it work, when the teachers “freaked” about having a student that needed more help or assistance, I was there, I cared, I was asked to move to another school because the funds were not avail to keep my position there. I refused to leave the students I care so much about. My son needs me, and I will take the cut, but it really hurts seeing other teachers take over what they once complained about. It makes me sick to see seniority rein over someone who really makes a difference for families. I appreciate your post. Come on over and meet my little 24 week miracle.
heather,
i followed the link you left at my place and made my way here thinking i’d poke about, read a bit, perhaps find out a little something interesting about you and your family.
what i found here nearly knocked the wind out of me.
i read emma’s story through rolling tears. your account of the fight that your incredible, beautiful little girl has had to endure in her short time on this planet is nothing short of heartbreaking, but it’s also nothing short of divine. the inspiration in her story (and yours) is beyond measure.
you never, ever gave up on her. from not signing the dnr to finding the transplant, to finding THE doctor you needed, to getting a hold of the tissue .. and on and on and on (and on).
damn woman. jenny, meet an actual warrior.
sounds like you’re facing an uphill battle with the school. funny, though .. after reading a little bit about you and emma, i’m not the least bit concerned. doesn’t sound like there’s much that can stop (either of) you.
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