Obviously, it has been forever since I have written, and one reason is because this year has been absolutely crazy. I'm not really sure why I'm so much busier this year. I even have one fewer class.
But the reason I decided to write tonight is because of a discrepancy I just witnessed.
As background, I am constantly called away from my class to attend IEP (Individual Education Plan) meetings. Most of the time, they are a waste of time -- a litany of teachers saying the same things over and over again about a student to decide whether or not s/he needs services. Clearly, I am not a fan (at least not when I should be teaching instead), nor are most other teachers. But we are legally required to go if summoned.
I had one of said meetings today, only it was slightly different because it was what's called a "Manifestation Meeting." What happened was one of my more difficult students, who has an IEP for an emotional disorder, had been suspended for smoking pot on school property and then entered into an alternative program. I was wondering why she wasn't expelled instead, but evidently (which I found out just today), due to her "disability," she was given a lesser punishment, and this meeting was to determine whether or not she knew the difference between right or wrong. Did we really need to have a meeting about that? She isn't five. Also, apparently this was her second strike. I know this girl; she knew exactly what she was doing. There should not have been any special treatment. But the school district was so paranoid about playing by the rules because of the (sometimes ridiculous) legal requirements of special education.
I believe school administrators need to stop kowtowing to special education. How about treating all kids special, instead?
