I have blogged a lot about Coopers struggles in and out of school. His biggest challenge is staying on task. This year he was put into a 4/5 grade split. The fourth graders come in at 8am and the 5th at 915. They split into respective groups throughout the day. Well we had a really bad experience on Friday, long story short. Cooper was asked to read a paragraph and re-write in his own words what the paragraph said. Well that can be tough for him, keeping his thoughts in his head long enough to write them back down, to say the least he felt very overwhelmed. The teacher didn't like the fact that he wasn't doing his work like she wanted him to and so she grabbed his paper crumpled it up and threw it in the trash. She then sent him 3 separate times into other teachers classes to finish his work. Cooper was confused on what he wasn't doing right, was in tears by the third classroom he was sent into (which was Alivia's class ) He walked in with tears streaming down his face and walked up to Alivia and told her his teacher was being rude to him today. According to Alivia and Cooper the teacher commented to Cooper that he needed to stop crying or was going to be sent to the principals office.
We found out all of this information when the kids got home. Ben was furious, Ben and I went up to the school after all the kids were out and spoke to the teacher to find out her side of the story (we believe Cooper but wanted to hear the teachers side obviously) Ben was very frank and asked her what happen and why she would do those things to a little boy who struggles with learning, well......she denied all of it. Well I do believe she crumpled up his paper, I do also believe she threatened to send him to the office. She also asked him about his medicine, which I have specifically asked teachers not to mention anything about medicine to Cooper. If she had a question about his medicine she needed to ask me. I don't want Cooper to think that his medicine dictates his behavior and so when he is having a bad day, I don't want someone to say, "did you take your medicine?" in which she did. She also denied that she threatened to send him to the office. No matter what is true or not it was handled completely wrong. He never should have been sent out of the room 3 times. I could go on and on. But it made me grateful for many things, Ben and his care and concern for our kids, for a Principal who looks out for the students, parents and teachers in a fair way. Thankful that no matter what Cooper is a sweet, lovable little boy and may not be perfect but tries hard to do the right things.
Love that little guy so much!!
