Source: Time is Precious
“Black and White”
Riding home from church I listen to the boys talk amongst themselves and I’m thankful for just another day to show them love and help guide them through life. With all the racism in this world today I am reminded my parents did one of the bravest things in their time…got married and had a daughter (me). Now in 2017 I have been blessed with these two handsome boys who parents also did a great thing…for married and gave birth to them both!
It is sad to see what has happened in Charlottesville, Virginia, but I feel it’s just bringing it to the light. I remember when our battle began with the school district for restraining my son I was floored to see the segregation and discrimination going on. BUT IT IS REAL! What happened in Virgina is real.
What can we do to stop it? What can we do to change it? I begins from within…one person at a time! I am proud to say “my father was white and my mother was black”…I can say I know what it feels like to experience orejudice on both sides. And because of my mixed race, I am not afraid to stand for or against either side.
Everyday I find myself saying,
“F@&$ XXXX-ISD” dealing with the results of (ignorance and racism) restraints and confinement, knowing it could have been avoided. My son complains everyday of false body pains, he is car sick every time we ride in the truck, flashbacks of each person who did this to him…retaliation at its fullest.
Racism is real and it is happening more and more everyday…Virginia is just another reminder. Our fight in education is a reminder to me that it’s happening and to majority of black male students.
While I am asked to walk away from this fight, I will not! Bullying in any form and especially racism, discrimination and segregation…is zero tolerance!
This has been published pursuant to free speech.
“The Personal Violent Affects of Restraint and Seclusion in the Education System”
Again I choose to share our Story so other parents are aware of the affects of RESTRAINTS AND SECLUSTION ROOMS being used in our education setting. It is a daily battle to keep my son in a positive mood, away from being violent towards anyone who he feels threatened by. It is NOT an easy task!
Today was a day he was aggressive and violent towards his brother…for no reason he felt his brother was trying to harm him and began fighting him. Being diagnosed with Autism there’s already an aggressive behavior, but after being held in a closet and fighting for his life to get out the flight-flight-freeze mode is 100 times worse. The sad part is this is while on medication! The second medication we have tried. Now what? I will continue to spend every waking moment researching learning and working with him until we break through. We will continue with Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Talk therapy and pray our way through this.
As much as I would like to be tactful, I will just say it…
Our current American education system, which accepts the free utilization of seclusion and restraint, often treats our children as if they are less than human. As if they cannot feel or be traumatized. As if they do not matter. And the truth is our children DO feel even if they cannot speak for themselves. And they most certainly do matter. They can learn when taught with compassion and understanding. They may grow up and change someone’s life someday…even the life of that teacher who shoved their face into the floor and dragged them into a seclusion room. We should never underestimate our special needs children and their future contributions to society based solely upon a disability.
Yet, by continuing to dehumanize them, we do not treat our future well. Seclusion and restraint has the potential to crush their spirits as well as their very being should they die from the event. Despite how well someone is trained, which often they are not, restraint is never without risk (Haimowitz, Urff, Huckshorn, 2006).
This has been published pursuant to free speech.
Klein ISD review on #Glassdoor: “Hidden evilness and shady policies”
As we come upon the time for school to start I want to remind parents to carefully research the schools you are choosing for our babies. The information is out there and it is important to know who we are leaving our babies in the care of. This is only a piece of what was written by an employee of one of the “great” school districts in our area…
“Klein on the surface is a good solid district. Once you’re inside however, you see the shadiness. If you’re not white and blonde good luck moving up the ladder.
The new superintendent Dr. Champion on the surface is a Christian man with high expectations and morals. Once you open your eyes you see he’s just a snake oil salesman.”
The push in special educaton coteach model is so sad. Students get no real time to work on IEP goals and there is no real collaboration between sped and general ed teachers.
The curriculum is the worst. It’s a bunch of resources and suggestions for lessons. It’s not helpful for a new teacher at all. There is no consistancy in curriculum. Some schools know what they’re doing and others have no clue. Depending on your campus, there is little to no vertical alignment so you have no idea what you should push your students for or prepare them for. I will say you can get by doing the bare minimum and no one notices.”
I wanted to shine some light on an insiders view of this school district that is rated highly amongst so many. As parents (myself included) we have to take the time to truly research the schools we choose to register our children. MOST ESPECIALLY those with disabilities. Raising my daughter, I chose to keep her in private school until middle and high school. And then I chose excellent rated, carefully researched schools in Houston, however, she did not have a disability plus she’s a female. What I notice is our young boys are suffering, especially those who are not Caucasian.
I know this story and other reports shining light on and naming school districts will continue to bring retaliation my way, but I ask this question….WHAT’s MORE IMPORTANT?
To me, educating parents is! Protecting children in the educational setting is! Not protecting the school districts that are consistently being funded by federal funds! We send our children to school each day believing they are being protected when in actuality they are not.
Our battle has just begun and throughout this battle I will continue to provide as much insight and information I can for those parents who do not know. I will continue to fight for the children who are our future generation yet being harmed by those who desire money and recognition over truth and concern.
https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Employee-Review-Klein-ISD-RVW15801220.htm
Walk 1 Day in My Shoes…
As we go into month 7, we experience another night of panic attacks, flashbacks, yelling, and crying! 😢 The only thing good is this one lasted for 30 minutes!
The reults of emotional chronic trauma are immeasurable! My lil man began by remembering the bullying he suffered in class from a little girl and how she embarrassed him in front of everyone. The same classroom and teachers that were a part of this restraint and Seclusion incident. I tried to hold him and allow him to express his feelings knowing it wouldn’t be long before he would go into full panic mode…and he did. Screaming and yelling at me and then crying and then saying, “I’m sorry mommy”.
This time it took only 30 minutes to calm down so I am thankful. It is however, sad to know the people who did this were people of our public school system who I trusted to teach my son and keep him safe, and now are not being held accountable. To be told over and over, there is no way to resolve this matter other than agree with “whatever” offer given is beyond absurd.
I have one question? What would you do if you were in my shoes?
Does no one care about this broken child’s future?
Walk 1 Day in My Shoes….
By the Numbers: Restraint & Seclusion
The Department of Education’s Civil Rights Data Collection offers the only information available on the use of restraint and seclusion nationwide. The data that is captured show that students with disabilities and boys are most often subject to restraint and seclusion. State policy does not appear to fully determine variations in reported use of such practices.
• One out of 5 districts have students that were restrained or secluded during the 2013-14 school year.
• Nearly 70,000 students covered under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act were restrained or secluded in 2013-14.
• Those students account for over 200,000 incidents of restraint or seclusion.
• One in every 100 students with disabilities is restrained or secluded.
• Four out of 5 students with disabilities who are restrained or secluded are males.
Source: Education Week Research Center analysis of Civil Rights Data Collection, 2017. Some student counts were rounded to protect individuals from being identified.
Parents and students must know their rights and continue to request cameras in special education classrooms. If you feel your child is being unfairly treated, disciplined, restrained or secluded, contact your local child advocate or attorney. As stated above, this is happening at alarming rates and there is not much being done about it legally!
It starts with your STATE LEGISLATURES…. call, write, advocate for our children!
One Day at a Time…
“Fight, Flight or Freeze” Another Restless Night
Chronic Trauma brings about the mode of fight, flight or freeze and last night like many nights, Alton was in freeze mode. When time for bed with the lights out he immediately began thinking and talking about what “those people” did to him.
He went on to explain in detail various moments he experienced while being placed in the “quiet room” and restrained at school. How he screamed to the top of his lungs and couldn’t breathe while fighting to get out. Panic attacks are the body’s “flight-freeze-fight” response kicking in. This response prepares our body to defend itself (for instance, our heart beats faster to pump blood to our muscles, so we have the energy to run away or fight off danger). However, sometimes our body reacts when there is no real danger.
And this is what happens almost every night when my son attempts to got to sleep. Last night was a two hour episode.
This blog is to educate others on how serious trauma is and how it seriously affects you mentally and physically. No Restraints! No Seclusion!
Justice 4 One 