Bullying - in my school district???

Here we are, less than one month into the new school year...

Does bullying exist in your child's school district? What about in his or her own school?

You bet it does!

And it occurs not only between students, but it might be occurring by teachers!

Watch this video titled Bullied: A Student, a School and a Case That Made History: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEH75H8fPQY

Then contact your school's principal and ask him (or her) to order a copy for his school. Ask by what date it will be ordered (budget won't be a problem; it's free. If you need to take a 44-cent stamp to the principal's office, take it (but it probably can be ordered by e-mail, too)).

And then follow up in two weeks to ask if it has been received. And then every week until it is received. Then ask if the principal and staff have watched it. And when it will be shown to every student in the school.

Get involved! Remember, you are the parent. You are responsible to see that the schools are safe for your child(ren).

Be relentless. And don't go it alone. Align yourself with other parents and insist on safe schools. Now!

And post your comment here, naming the school you will ask to order the film today.

You think that teachers don't bully students? "My son has a teacher who actually calls the kids wieners and makes fun of them if they are struggling. He has a mug and sign in the classroom that say 'I see stupid people'.”

That quote is from an article on www.WrightsLaw.com Go to that site; then search for "Bullying" and look down the list for that article. You'll spot it easily from the leading quote.

Does it happen in Woodstock District 200? You bet! It was spotted by a technical consultant who was called in to conduct a proper Functional Behavior Assessment for a student whose absenteeism was over 60% for the school year (and never reported as truant!). What happened to the teacher? Nothing!

D200 SpecEd Parent Advisory Council

Parents of students in Special Education in the Woodstock District 200 school district are still interested in a Parent Advisory Council.

Last spring surveys were to be distributed to parents of all special education students. There are probably at least 1,000 special ed students in District 200. How many were received?

About 60 surveys were returned by parents. Ninety percent expressed interest in a special ed parents' advisory council and information and training to help them with their child's education. A few were not interested. I was curious about the 700 parents who did not return surveys and wondered why they didn't return the surveys.

I could guess at some of the reasons. I'd rather know the reasons.

I tried to get a kick-off meeting before the end of the school year. No success.

I tried to get a summer kick-off meeting scheduled. No success.

On August 25 I emailed the Special Ed Dept. about getting together to discuss such a council. In a week, no reply.

Would District 200 like for this idea to just die on the vine? It's not going to happen. Some parents have spent hours (weeks! months!) and thousands of dollars getting "educated", and we are happy to share what we have learned with other parents, so that they don't have to face the drudgery of endless battles just to get the right educational services in place for their kids.

Pass information about this blog to all the parents of special ed kids in District 200. To date the district has done a fine job of keeping parents isolated. That time is past.

Well-informed parents make better partners with schools. That's the atmosphere that should exist. It could exist. It will exist.

Watch here for a list of programs and information that parents said last spring that they want. Coming soon.