The Vent

[Ontarkie 14,133]

Well the home school thing was something i did my research with years ago when I went thru the ADD/ADHD thing with my oldest back in grade 2. SO when we started having probelms back in January before we even moved here I started to see what the requirements where for Arkansas and I found it was very easy to get them homeschooled. So when we the kids did started having probelms and the teachers just not caring about working with their IEP's I had enough and printed off the forms I needed and turned them in. Home schooling is not really hard or easy but it is working and the kids do get challenged. There is so many resources out there its crazy. There is 1500 families in my area alone that home school. If home schooling is something you have been thinking about do your research for your area to see what is need and see if you can easily get the books or cd programs you want. But follow your gut and your instinks with the schools and don't let anyone force you to get your son on meds. There are many ways to work with ADD?ADHD that don't require meds.

Now as for here and getting the kids tested they had no problems doing the testing and I was never told it would cost us a thing, but I did pull the kids out before it happened. I can't see why the school is giving you such a hard time with the reports you have from the Canadian doctors there is no reason for that #######.

[trailmix 77]

Well the home school thing was something i did my research with years ago when I went thru the ADD/ADHD thing with my oldest back in grade 2. SO when we started having probelms back in January before we even moved here I started to see what the requirements where for Arkansas and I found it was very easy to get them homeschooled. So when we the kids did started having probelms and the teachers just not caring about working with their IEP's I had enough and printed off the forms I needed and turned them in. Home schooling is not really hard or easy but it is working and the kids do get challenged. There is so many resources out there its crazy. There is 1500 families in my area alone that home school. If home schooling is something you have been thinking about do your research for your area to see what is need and see if you can easily get the books or cd programs you want. But follow your gut and your instinks with the schools and don't let anyone force you to get your son on meds. There are many ways to work with ADD?ADHD that don't require meds.

Now as for here and getting the kids tested they had no problems doing the testing and I was never told it would cost us a thing, but I did pull the kids out before it happened. I can't see why the school is giving you such a hard time with the reports you have from the Canadian doctors there is no reason for that #######.

Anyone noticing a pattern in this thread?

The thing is, when my Son was in elementary school, ADD was not a catch all for active kids - so there was never any suggestion to drug him or send him for evaluation or anything like that.

Teachers just dragged you in to a room to complain, you didn't actually have to drug them.

Edited January 8, 2009 by trailmix

[thetreble 19]

ADD was never big when I was going through school either. It's the new thing since the mid 90s it seems.

[Ontarkie 14,133]

Oh ya i wanted to add something about the schools getting more for kids who are special needs and yes Charles your mom was right they do but it doesnt mean the kids who have those problems see that extra money as in teachers aids and what not. Another thing I wanted to mention a few days before the schools here started we got 4 letters in the mail. It was from the Arkansas department of Education telling us the that school we have our kids enrolled at are failing the requirments that the state has mandated. Ya that made me mad. And we had no options of just changing them to another school.

Ya I noticed the catch all diagnosis that teachers like o make with ADD. A friend of mine who was having major problems with her son and teachers did all the testing all the doctors the teachers wanted cause they were determined that he was ADD and all the ppl trying to diagnos him with ADD were told he wasnt. His teacher was not happy at all this kid was in JK and had been suspended several times cause she didn't like to deal with his behavior, but this child was a handfull and was very much a brat. After a few years of me insisting he see the doctor for sleep apnea he got some type of rash and had to see a ENT. and they did find out he has very bad sleep apnea and boy what a difference it made with him having being able to sleep. (Now i'm no expert and didnt think this up myself another friend went thru that with her daughter so for me it was something I new about). Spleep apnea in kids makes them very hyper and can mimick ADD.

[thetreble 19]

Ya that made me mad. And we had no options of just changing them to another school.

What do you mean? As far as I'm concerned, you always have other options. You can either A) pay to put them in a catholic/private/special needs school or B ) Find a good district, make a friend, and use their mailing address.

[Ontarkie 14,133]

well they are the only schools in town here they have 1 highschool its split into 2 campuses across town one for grades 9&10 the other 11&12. there is only one school for grade 6. all 13 elementry grade 5 kids go there. Now there is a grade 7&8 school again the only school and there is no way we can drive 4 kids out of town to send them to another school. Private/catholic/special. Lets start with special needs school their is none in town again and they are really only for troubled children. Private schools are also out even if we could afford to pay tuition for 4 kids its not an option i'm not allowed to place my kids into a catholic school. I even looked into magnet schools not an option.

Its not as easy as using someone address anyways they need a power bill with your name and address on it at time of enrollement.

The only option i had was grin and bare it leave my kids an a school system that is abusive and watch them deteriate, or pull them out.

Edited January 8, 2009 by Ontarkie

[Krikit 1,163]

But follow your gut and your instinks with the schools and don't let anyone force you to get your son on meds. There are many ways to work with ADD?ADHD that don't require meds.

Sorry. No offense, but that gave me a chuckle. (instincts)

After a few years of me insisting he see the doctor for sleep apnea he got some type of rash and had to see a ENT. and they did find out he has very bad sleep apnea and boy what a difference it made with him having being able to sleep. (Now i'm no expert and didnt think this up myself another friend went thru that with her daughter so for me it was something I new about). Spleep apnea in kids makes them very hyper and can mimick ADD.

Interesting. So sad that with the god-awful hour they have to get up for school and the tons of homework they send them home with at night, it's a wonder the poor kids are getting any sleep at all.

Ya that made me mad. And we had no options of just changing them to another school.

What do you mean? As far as I'm concerned, you always have other options. You can either A) pay to put them in a catholic/private/special needs school or B ) Find a good district, make a friend, and use their mailing address.

That would involve signing over parental rights to that "friend".

[MrsCat 6]

Its not as easy as using someone address anyways they need a power bill with your name and address on it at time of enrollement.

- whoa. I guess they must run into a lot of people wanting to get their kids out of crappy schools!

My husband's coworker is having trouble with his son right now - school in area sucks, bullying etc, so since the wife stays at home she's been home schooling him. He's a really neat little guy - but was having a horrible time with the haole/local thing here and the school also was receiving a failing grade from the feds (?). I'm still not sure no child left behind falls under.

So he's at home now with his mom and getting his education that way. They're actually hoping to leave the islands all together because of it. They're just waiting for the father to have his job transfered elsewhere. Its sad really - because they moved here with such hopes and dreams.

Edit: They moved from Barrow, AK so this was going to be paradise for them. Schools in nowheresville was better than they are here.

Edited January 8, 2009 by MrsCat

[Sprailenes 47]

Well I have just talked to an Alternative school in Philadelphia. Thats an option and we'll have to move but if thats what I have to do to give my son an equal opportunity in life then I will do it.

Our lease runs out in August so I have to get my duckies in a row. Quack.

Meaning I'll have to get a diagnosis prove he can't cope with regular schools and blah blah more red tape. But I'll give it a whirl.

Edited January 8, 2009 by Sprailenes

[trailmix 77]

My Sister home schooled her Son for a few years - I don't remember exactly why, I will ask her. It was some blah school situation. Anyway, it went really well.

He is now back in public school and it's all good.

Edited January 8, 2009 by trailmix

[MrsCat 6]

Well I have just talked to an Alternative school in Philadelphia. Thats an option and we'll have to move but if thats what I have to do to give my son an equal opportunity in life then I will do it.

Our lease runs out in August so I have to get my duckies in a row. Quack.

You always keep your head high and straight Sprai

[Sprailenes 47]

Yea equal opportunity in education rises but so does the risk of being shot!

Joking of course. Sorta.

[thetreble 19]

Well I have just talked to an Alternative school in Philadelphia. Thats an option and we'll have to move but if thats what I have to do to give my son an equal opportunity in life then I will do it.

In my opinion, some times that is what has to happen. I know in Jersey, people literally will pay 25K in property taxes a year in order to send their kid to a decent public school.

Also Krikit, you don't have to sign off parental rights. Some towns must be different than others. My father in law is a school board administrator in a bad town with a bad school. He has told me that people from Newark, a city where schools are even worse and dangerous, will do anything to get their kid to his town and put them in school there.

Pretending you live somewhere isn't that hard. I was living with my husband and getting bills at his address addressed to me...fooling the system really isn't that difficult.

[Ontarkie 14,133]

Ya i can't spell to save my life. So no worries.

I've been told its a real problem, ppl send thier kids to Little Rock for the better school but we can't be driving them there every morning and picking them up.

[Reeena 0]

Spleep apnea in kids makes them very hyper and can mimick ADD.

Interesting, I would of never thought that. I just thought Jared's teacher was a nut, well still kinda do, LOL