The Problem With Public School

Before I was a stay at home mom, I was a teacher. I was always surprised when a child would come into my class so far behind their peers. One year while teaching 5th grade, I had a student that was on a first grade reading level and struggled to write a paragraph. How could a child go through school six years and be this far behind? Recently, I learned the answer to that question.

This week, I wrote my child's teacher and therapist about my concerns. My child is really struggling with spelling. Since he doesn't say his words correctly, he can't sound them out to write them. For example, he wrote, " Ve pewn li to et fis" ( The penguin likes to eat fish). Even though he struggles with writing, he has no problem reading the sentence. I asked them for ideas on how I can help him at home. I asked how they were helping him at school. I also asked how we were going to continue helping his speech this summer.

Here are some highlights of different things I was told: spelling errors are common with children who have articulation difficulties; the best thing I can do is continue to expose my child to words through reading; his writing will get better with time the more he is exposed to words and the more his speech develops; he can not be tested for dyslexia for another three years; they will keep an eye on him; he will continue to work on his writing during centers; the older he gets, the more he will have technology to aid his writing; he doesn't qualify for any services this summer because he is too high functioning ( he must be at least two years behind to receive services).

It was after reading the responses that things clicked. I finally realized the problem with public school. I think that it is absolutely ridiculous for a child to have to fall two years behind before they can receive services. By then, how are they suppose to catch up? It just doesn't seem fair. It breaks my heart for all of these kids that fall between the cracks ( the kids that are functioning below their peers, but too high that they are monitoring for the two year gap). A parent can plead for help, but there is nothing the school will do. The only other answer is to find help for the child elsewhere which ends up costing a lot of money. Many families don't have that option. The most interesting thing about going elsewhere is that you will find out that a medical facility will script a child receiving services at school for more therapy than what the school is offering. My son is scripted four hours of individual therapy a week, but the school will only give him 30 minutes in a group setting.

It also fustrated me that my son's opportunities to better his writing will be done in centers. Centers are for independent activities. How can one develop a skill through a center? Centers are for practicing what you have already developed.

The system really needs to change so that it is helping all kids grow and be successful; so that, one day little Steven doesn't show up to fifth grade on a first grade reading level and struggling to write.  I don't know if things will ever change, but I hope one day it will.