Honestly - i wasn't trying to be a tease!
But since i inadvertently left everyone hanging - i'll spill...
Like i said before, Sloanie is doing her grade 6 provincial achievement tests this year. For simplicity, we decided to go have her write them at the community center in Okotoks. i packed a picnic lunch for us & we all drove out together.
It was Sloanie's second exam - she had already written a math one on Tuesday - & then she needed to write her writing exam on the Thursday. i left all the other littles with Cairo while i took Sloanie in to get settled & then we were going to go to the park behind the rec. complex. When we arrived, all the parents and children were standing in the hallway. Usually, the children just file into the gym & find their exam & get settled right away - but they must've been running behind. Finally, they began calling children in by name - which felt a little nerve wracking - why not just let everyone in & have them find their seats? i was standing with Sloanie waiting for her to get called, as the parents have the right to be there & to look over the exam before their child takes it.
Finally, the vice principal called in the 6th and 9th graders together, but he didn't let them sit down. He had them all stand in a group off to the side. It was mostly 9th graders - who were bigger than me & i didn't see anyone Sloanie's age. i stuck by her side & we walked in & i tried whispering little funnies to her to keep her relaxed. Then the vp turned to me & asked pointedly, "Who are you?" i put my hand on Sloan's shoulder & said, "We're here for the grade 6 writing exam."
"I'm gonna have to ask you to leave." he remarked (kinda rudely too, i thought).
"Right now?" i was flustered, 'cause i felt bullied - & yet i knew parents have the right to review the test prior to the child taking it.
"Yes. Right now. You're going to have to leave."
Now, in retrospect, i should have told him that i had the right to be there & that he was making me uncomfortable and embarrassed - but i didn't. i just left. & Sloanie later told me it made her scared too... to be left there with a herd of grade 9's right before what will be her toughest exam this year.
i did complain later - but it ate at me that whole day... wondering how i could have handled it without throwing Sloanie off...
'till i talked to my sister.
& she made me feel better.
Even the teacher who i complained to was kind & understanding, stating that he, of all people should have known better.
& yes. He should have.
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7 comments:
I really don't understand why he thought you had to leave right then. It's not like you were trying to stay during the actual test. She hadn't even gotten her seat yet, right? That's ridiculous. I'm sorry you had to deal with that! HUGS.
Whoa - didn't see that coming. I figured it'd have to do with you nursing in public or something, and some ignorant manager of said public place asking you to leave... I've seen a *lot* of that kind of thing lately being discussed, so I just figured...
...that being said...
I probably would've done the same thing. I get really flustered when bullied, and then it eats at me, and then I get the nerve to talk to someone/do something about it.
Only I don't have the sister to talk to. I'm glad you do! I can still see Jess going in there and giving him a piece of her mind... hee hee...
THanks for posting this, Paige! I'm glad you got *some* resolution over it.
I was thinking the same as Melissa..lol
Mind you I think I would have been just as rude as the vp was...sigh...cause that's just how I am...wish I was there with you to tell him off...glad you had some resolution too!!
Schools, it seems, are not real great at communication. We were running late this morning so I didn't have time to get Alisdair's lunch ready. So I ran down to the school with his sandwich. He was nowhere to be found. So I talked to an EA for a minute and went back to his class. Still no boy. Finally another kid says he was taken out to work on his motor skills (and the boy gestures like he is starting a motorbike). So I go searching again and find him and a lady in the gym. Turns out she is a physiotherapist and this is the first time THIS YEAR that she is seeing Alisdair and assessing him for what he can and can't do!!! After she let Alisdair go to eat, I was able to chat with her and learned that they were so tardy to test him because she has 24 different schools to cover and who knows how many students. She has been working since she started with the kids in wheelchairs and with cerebral palsy and only now had time to assess others with more mild disabilities....
If I had not have showed up with his lunch (and then gone to look for him -- if I'd left it on the desk, I would have missed the woman,too)... I wouldn't have had any idea about her visit and what she hopes to accomplish...
It makes me frustrated. I want him to get help BUT it doesn't seem like the public system is able to do much other than modify his program...
Frankly, it makes me think more and more that homeschool MIGHT be the way to go -- though most folk are telling me at the moment not to do it that it would take too much time and effort and that he wouldn't be socialized and that would not be good!!!
I hope Sloanie did all right on her exam after all that... How far is Okotoks from your place in Calgary? I am sure it would be easier to do it there than driving all over the city in traffic.
I was curious about what had happened so glad you explained. Probably the poor fellow wasn't having a good day and was under stress and just didn't think. Did you complain to him, personally -- or someone else??
Off to soccer practise in a few minutes...
Blessings!
Schools, it seems, are not real great at communication. We were running late this morning so I didn't have time to get Alisdair's lunch ready. So I ran down to the school with his sandwich. He was nowhere to be found. So I talked to an EA for a minute and went back to his class. Still no boy. Finally another kid says he was taken out to work on his motor skills (and the boy gestures like he is starting a motorbike). So I go searching again and find him and a lady in the gym. Turns out she is a physiotherapist and this is the first time THIS YEAR that she is seeing Alisdair and assessing him for what he can and can't do!!! After she let Alisdair go to eat, I was able to chat with her and learned that they were so tardy to test him because she has 24 different schools to cover and who knows how many students. She has been working since she started with the kids in wheelchairs and with cerebral palsy and only now had time to assess others with more mild disabilities....
If I had not have showed up with his lunch (and then gone to look for him -- if I'd left it on the desk, I would have missed the woman,too)... I wouldn't have had any idea about her visit and what she hopes to accomplish...
It makes me frustrated. I want him to get help BUT it doesn't seem like the public system is able to do much other than modify his program...
Frankly, it makes me think more and more that homeschool MIGHT be the way to go -- though most folk are telling me at the moment not to do it that it would take too much time and effort and that he wouldn't be socialized and that would not be good!!!
I hope Sloanie did all right on her exam after all that... How far is Okotoks from your place in Calgary? I am sure it would be easier to do it there than driving all over the city in traffic.
I was curious about what had happened so glad you explained. Probably the poor fellow wasn't having a good day and was under stress and just didn't think. Did you complain to him, personally -- or someone else??
Off to soccer practise in a few minutes...
Blessings!
Sounds like the vp was unorganized and running behind. Seems like he was feeling the heat a bit and that's why you were treated like that. No, I don't agree that it was right though, that's for sure. I would have for sure set him in his place, especially if I felt he was being bully-ish.
Sorry it had to happen to ya, Paige- & chances are it will happen again- & next time you'll be prepared:)
Carlee
Or just take me along. lol
Carlee
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