A small complaint about a small change
My son Charlie attends school in one of the public elementary schools in our town. He is in a self-contained autism classroom and soon will start “peer-modeling,” in which non-autistic students participate in certain activities with him. It would certainly be nice to have Charlie spend more time in more integrated settings with other children but, at this time, it seems best for his academic learning for him to be in a self-contained setting. He attends activities like assemblies (a bit of a challenge for Charlie, as he has to sit quietly and pay attention to a stage far away from him). Most of all, he likes school—-getting on the bus with a huge smile—-and has been making good strides in his reading and other academic programs and in his speech.
It is good, indeed, for Charlie to be in a regular elementary school in which he can participate in the regular rhythms of daily life.
And then there was last week. Due to parent-teacher conferences, Charlie’s school day ended at 1pm instead of 3pm from Tuesday until Friday. He therefore had a total of eight fewer hours of school—equivalent to more than one full day plus of school—with the result that, by Friday, Charlie was very anxious, humming more and talking less, and (on Friday afternoon) erupted into the biggest tantrum he has had in several weeks. He has also had a lot of difficulty falling asleep for the past few days and I attribute this to his having less cognitive stimulation all week in the good learning environment of his classroom.
Ok, you say. But that’s how it goes. You had to go to your parent-teacher conference, anyways.
Actually, no.
Charlie’s teacher does biweekly home visits instead of a conference. I know his teachers definitely needed the extra hours to prepare for their teaching. I also know that Charlie is talking less and more “on edge”—-it all goes to show what a good effect his being in his school has on him. And it would be best for him to be there the maximum amount that he can be, and I hope those who make these scheduling decisions in the school day can take his needs into account (and not say, in supposed sympathy, “poor kids need some time off!”). And I do think that I am…..complaining…….but from a parent’s deepest determination to make sure that Charlie has the best days that he can.
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