Fight For Your Right to Paaaaaarty!
Conference for you future!
Backing out of the garage I glanced over to see Cassidy on the front porch bench with my mother. They were laughing and waving at me. I rolled down the car window, leaned out, pointed to Cassidy and declared, "I'M GONA FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO PARTY!" We both laughed and I drove away honking the horn at her as she waved at me happily from the porch.
I got to the school on time, 8:45 and had to wait for about 20 minutes before Cassidy's teacher, Kathy finally came and got me. She led me to a room of about nine other women from the school district and had me sit in the chair next to hers.
I knew I was in for a battle. I had to keep my head clear and remember what I wanted from this conference and not back down until I got it. I knew from the advice of Jill, Monica and a few others that it is her RIGHT to go to kindergarten and I was not going to settle for less. This meeting was to determine what they were going to do for Cassidy next year.
A large aggressive woman in hot pink sat on the other side of Kathy. She was trying to sell me on the idea of sending Cassidy to the "Special" school in New Castle. She told me that a school bus would come to our door and pick her up. I protested that it was too long of a drive for her. She tried to tell me that it would be ok but hell, I have to drive her to school everyday because the bus driver refuses to drive her.
The speech therapist talked to me extensively about tests she had done on Cassidy. The occupational therapist told me about how she struggled to give Cassidy an IQ test and didn't feel that the results reflected much about her true intelligence. I didn't even ask for the results. The behavioral review from last year to this year had improved quite a bit.
Kathy bragged about Cassidy's intelligence and ability to learn and remember things. The speech therapist went on about Cassidy's imagination. We all discussed behavioral issues that make education difficult.
The hot pink lady still kept pressing the idea of sending her to New Castle. I told her that I wanted Cassidy in an educationally challenging environment. She assured me that New Castle was challenging and begged me to promise I would check out the school. I didn't promise. Then she said she had a meeting and I was grateful when she got up to leave.
Someone stopped her to ask if we had decided what to do with Cassidy next year. Hot Pink said I am sure the mother will decide that AFTER she checks out New Castle. Then she left the room. This just pissed me off.
After the door shut I turned to the remaining women at the table. With tears of frustration in my eyes I confidently tapped the table with my index finger in rhythm to my words. "Listen, Cassidy is going to kindergarten. I want her to at least TRY. If she goes and it doesn't work out it will be no good for her to stay in and I will gladly send her to New Castle if I feel it is best. But regardless of what these tests show I KNOW how smart she is and what she is capable of achieving. I want to give her a chance."
I know they are all just frightened of her outbursts and fits. I explained to them just how much WORSE she was last year and that these fits were minor in comparison. I told them that the possibility of them being better by next school year was a definite possiblity.
They all agreed or said nothing and started thinking up ways to make this work for Cassidy. They will continue speech therapy, they will make a behavior plan, she would stay an extra half hour after school for a special class and she would have a personal aid. I asked about the aid and they said they had no one to do it. I told them about Jill. I have no idea if Jill could or would even be willing to go all the way to Middletown for this but I told them I would ask her.
I told them how Cassidy has NEVER responded to ANYONE the way she does to Jill. They gave me a phone number and asked me to get in touch with her and call if she is interested. (If you are reading this Jill email me. I will contact you VERY soon)
Kathy has really been on my side and after the meeting she took me aside and said that she would go with me on a Friday to check out New Castle just to satisfy Hot Pink.
One more battle won.
Backing out of the garage I glanced over to see Cassidy on the front porch bench with my mother. They were laughing and waving at me. I rolled down the car window, leaned out, pointed to Cassidy and declared, "I'M GONA FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO PARTY!" We both laughed and I drove away honking the horn at her as she waved at me happily from the porch.
I got to the school on time, 8:45 and had to wait for about 20 minutes before Cassidy's teacher, Kathy finally came and got me. She led me to a room of about nine other women from the school district and had me sit in the chair next to hers.
I knew I was in for a battle. I had to keep my head clear and remember what I wanted from this conference and not back down until I got it. I knew from the advice of Jill, Monica and a few others that it is her RIGHT to go to kindergarten and I was not going to settle for less. This meeting was to determine what they were going to do for Cassidy next year.
A large aggressive woman in hot pink sat on the other side of Kathy. She was trying to sell me on the idea of sending Cassidy to the "Special" school in New Castle. She told me that a school bus would come to our door and pick her up. I protested that it was too long of a drive for her. She tried to tell me that it would be ok but hell, I have to drive her to school everyday because the bus driver refuses to drive her.
The speech therapist talked to me extensively about tests she had done on Cassidy. The occupational therapist told me about how she struggled to give Cassidy an IQ test and didn't feel that the results reflected much about her true intelligence. I didn't even ask for the results. The behavioral review from last year to this year had improved quite a bit.
Kathy bragged about Cassidy's intelligence and ability to learn and remember things. The speech therapist went on about Cassidy's imagination. We all discussed behavioral issues that make education difficult.
The hot pink lady still kept pressing the idea of sending her to New Castle. I told her that I wanted Cassidy in an educationally challenging environment. She assured me that New Castle was challenging and begged me to promise I would check out the school. I didn't promise. Then she said she had a meeting and I was grateful when she got up to leave.
Someone stopped her to ask if we had decided what to do with Cassidy next year. Hot Pink said I am sure the mother will decide that AFTER she checks out New Castle. Then she left the room. This just pissed me off.
After the door shut I turned to the remaining women at the table. With tears of frustration in my eyes I confidently tapped the table with my index finger in rhythm to my words. "Listen, Cassidy is going to kindergarten. I want her to at least TRY. If she goes and it doesn't work out it will be no good for her to stay in and I will gladly send her to New Castle if I feel it is best. But regardless of what these tests show I KNOW how smart she is and what she is capable of achieving. I want to give her a chance."
I know they are all just frightened of her outbursts and fits. I explained to them just how much WORSE she was last year and that these fits were minor in comparison. I told them that the possibility of them being better by next school year was a definite possiblity.
They all agreed or said nothing and started thinking up ways to make this work for Cassidy. They will continue speech therapy, they will make a behavior plan, she would stay an extra half hour after school for a special class and she would have a personal aid. I asked about the aid and they said they had no one to do it. I told them about Jill. I have no idea if Jill could or would even be willing to go all the way to Middletown for this but I told them I would ask her.
I told them how Cassidy has NEVER responded to ANYONE the way she does to Jill. They gave me a phone number and asked me to get in touch with her and call if she is interested. (If you are reading this Jill email me. I will contact you VERY soon)
Kathy has really been on my side and after the meeting she took me aside and said that she would go with me on a Friday to check out New Castle just to satisfy Hot Pink.
One more battle won.
posted by Anonymous at 11:22 AM
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