Decisions

Today I went to S.'s second year preschool evaluation/conference. It went very well. His social skills have improved from last year, and as his teacher told me, he can now 'hold his own'. I was very happy to hear that! I've always worried about S.; he's a very sensitive kid. I have a dilemma, though. S. is a bright kid. He's on target in all areas, but, and hope this doesn't sound like bragging, but he is very talented in math. He loves it! To give you an example of his knowledge, S. can tell time to the minute on an analog clock. My niece, who is 9 months older, cannot nor should she be expected to. In front of her, I had to describe what I believe to be true. God gives everyone a gift. I told her S.'s was math, and she came up with hers. I felt bad about that, because everyone was focusing on S. and his abilities of things she can't do, that most kids that age can't.


S. can also add single digits, such as 9+9 as well as double-digits like 20+20 or 50+50 etc. He can count by 5's and 20's; he hasn't tried any others yet. I am very proud of him as you can probably guess. My real dilemma comes from how to best enrich and challenge him next year when he goes to kindergarten. Before you view me as one of those moms, let me tell you that I worked in the school district he will go to. I have already signed him up for kindergarten there. It is an excellent school district, and has been rated very well. However, having taught there myself, I know certain things that make me pause.

Like many school districts, ours is a full inclusion one. Which means all learning disabled as well as children with social/emotional problems are in the regular classroom. I think having children with minor learning and behavior problems is fine, even beneficial in a classroom. I do not believe that a child who is a fourth grader reading at a first grade level is best being served in the 'regular' classroom, nor is it the best thing for the students around them. This very thing happened in my classroom when I taught fourth grade. The ones who need the most help get it at the expense of other children. My biggest concern, though, is a behavior disordered child being in my son's classroom. I have credentials in that area too, so like the LD kids, I often had the BD students as well. There were many disruptions from those students that came at the expense of ALL the other children. A few of the things I had to deal with were: fires, police escorts, parental threats, fights, other students being scared, other parents calling me upset, etc. etc. with VERY little support. Teachers try their best to meet the needs of all their students, but there is only one of us and thirty of them. Yes, I have had an aide before, but she could only work with the LD/BD students, and seldom did she stay for long periods of time. I'd like to say this is an isolated example, but it's not. I have taught at three different school districts and have witnessed this at each. Remember, though, I am not talking about children with minor problems such as ADHD. I know some of you who live with children with this disability would not agree with me that ADHD is a 'minor' problem, but in the scheme of things it can be. I am a little biased, though, as I really have enjoyed working with these children.

What does this all have to my with son? I worry about S.'s needs being met. I worry about my son being physically bullied. Remember he is a VERY sensitive child. Our school district does a good job at meeting the average needs, and does a great job of educating children with special needs. However, until third grade when kids can receive enrichment services, those kids often are the ones who sit and are bored. Oh, come third grade, our district offers an 'academically talented' AKA: 'gifted' program. I don't think my child will need this program, though. Maybe he will, who knows.

I've been thinking of putting him in the private Christian school nearby, which offers an all-day kindergarten where they teach enrichment activities in the afternoon. This school is quite pricey, though. I mean, very pricey. It is an excellent school that would definitely meets his needs. Should I try the public school first, and if we weren't happy, switch him to the private school? Would it be a hard change for him? Would he still be eager to go to school if he's bored? Or should I put him in the private school, and see how that goes first? I really don't want my kids to bounce around from one school to another, as I had to with our near constant moving. I just want what's best for my son. Trouble is, how do I figure that out? Any suggestions would be appreciated.