yourmileagemayvary's blog

mini (albeit long winded) update to the bite incident

 abuse

Follow up to my blog last night (http://www.wral.com/golo/blogpost/6358655/ )

Quick recap for those who didn't read and don't feel apt to click the link and read the previous blog, lol.  For those of you who read it last night or clicked the link, feel free to skip by everything in italics!

My son got bit at school yesterday.  I didn't know about it until he told me about it before dinner.  No note was sent home, no phone call was made, and he wasn't sent to the nurse's office to get the wound cleaned (there is a full imprint of teeth on his back, and one of the teeth managed to puncture his skin.  It has a slight scab on it this morning).

I asked him a zillion questions about the incident, where I learned when/where it happened, who did it and why, what teacher he told, and what her response was, and why he wasn't brought to the nurse ('it wasn't bleeding so he didn't need to go).  While blood may not haveb een gushing out of his back and drenching his shirt, a germ-infested mouth caused a break in my son's skin, and he should have been sent to have it cleansed.

I emailed the teacher and told her all that I had been told and attached pics.  Because she is a good teacher, she replied to my email last night around 10pm, and said this was the first she had heard about it.  She said she would speak with him today, as well as forward the information along to I assume the principal, so that appropriate action can be taken.

I asked that someone get back in touch with me regarding this incident.  Also addressed in the email was the fact that altho he has resource time each day to help with his writing, I have not received any feedback from the resource teacher all year, and would appreciate some feedback as it's not very easy to advocate for my son when I'm left in the dark about how well he is doing at meeting his IEP goals.

I got a call very early today from the resource teacher, who informed me that he's doing quite well, etc.  I asked her if she could maybe talk to him today about what happened yesterday, and told her that my son seemed scared to tell me the truth about what happened, and possibley lied about even telling a teacher (he may have told *a* teacher, but he said he told *his* teacher, and she says he didn't).  I'm concerned that this is not the first time my son has come home with injuries this year, and I can't seem to get a straight answer out of him as to what happened, who did it, who was told, etc.  First grade is too young to be afraid to tell a grown up when someone is causing you trouble, especially when it is physical pain and injuries.

The resource teacher offered to connect my son with the school counselor, which I accepted.  I was very pleased that she made this offer, and she sounded geniunely concerned with what is going on.  She promised me that between her, his teacher, the counselor, and the principal, they would investigate the issue and get to the bottom of this.

I know this is long winded, but a lot of folks chimed in and seemed concerned last night, so I wanted to give a bit of an update.  I also know that it's very easy to be disgruntled with the public school system and the seeming lack of caring/effort, but I wanted to say that despite the fact my son is having issues that apparently keep going unnoticed, I am pleased with the school's initial response once this has been brought to their attention.  I consider myself to be a pretty reasonable and rational mom, and I don't want to fly off the hook before it is warranted. 

I realize that the classes are big and that teachers only have 2 eyes and can't witness everything, so while I'm a little miffed that minor incidents like my kid not following directions gets noticed and a letter gets sent home, but major things like other kids inflicting injury to him go unnoticed, I'm not a raging lunatic just yet.  Lots of stuff goes on right under our noses (just look at Jaycee Duggard).  We are all only human.  I can just hope that now that the matter has been brought up with several individuals at the school, that more attention will be paid, and this unnecessary garbage gets stopped.

Anyways, thanks for reading and allowing me to vent.  I'll try to be a little less rambling with my next update.  From here, I am expecting feedback from both teachers, the principal, and the counselor.  If I have to call the school to get this feedback, I'm not going to be really happy, as I feel something like this warrants a little proactivity on behalf of the school.  I was very happy that prior to 8am, I had a phone call from the resource teacher.   That was awesome!

Have a super weekend!

Filed under: Personal