Alafia Elementary Counting Down 'Til The Bell

A little over an hour away.

We can envision the suits have their strategy worked out to defuse the situation and maximize damage control through various methods. There may even be a cover charge to enter the ROSSAC (It has been a while since I have been there, maybe they figured that out a long time ago - anything to keep the public out of public display of concern).

We can envision the public having last minute thoughts on actually going to the meeting and speaking those much rehearsed statements. I know. I have been there.

Final bets should be placed soon:

PRO on HCPS: Upcoming Drinking Game:

"What do you think the betting odds will be on the following:


A public speaker will be told they are out of order?

The televised and main-stream production will malfunction?

The members of the public that are there to speak about the Alafia Elementary debacle will be told that the Board will not be receiving comments about that at this time, and that another meeting will be scheduled for them to speak at some yet-to-be-determined time?

Someone will actually be hand-cuffed?

No one will talk about the word 'public' in Hillsborough County Public Schools?

At least one Board member will have the temerity to hold their 'Robert's Rules Of Order' book up high while they are calling for a point of order?"

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According to the The Alafia Elementary Blog, The Superintendent was to have met with the teachers early this afternoon. She is to meet with the parents Thursday night. A commenter already has suspicion that tonight's chance to speak will be thwarted, so the PRO has covered above.

Did anyone look up the statistics about how many special ed kids get arrested right here in HCPS every year? You know, the ones that are supposed to be provided specialized education to meet the individual needs of their disabilities and provided a curriculum that is reasonably designed to demonstrate progress.


So, instead of "only" sending the kids off to the juvenile justice system because the parents aren't good parents and the kids don't behave correctly on their own, maybe there would be some meaning "only" found here:

IDEA - Building The Legacy of IDEA 2004:


"Discussion: As with other related services, an LEA only is responsible for providing parent counseling and training if a child's IEP Team determines that it is necessary for the child to receive FAPE. To include this language in the definition of parent counseling and training, moreover, would be unnecessarily duplicative of Sec. 300.17(d), which states that FAPE means special education and related services that are provided in conformity with an IEP that meets the requirements in Sec. Sec. 300.320 through 300.324."


Less than 45 minutes until show time.

Jargon - Parsing Words - Dazzle or Baffle -

Here is an interesting link to several resources on "lingo".

My previous post links to another post that has a subsequent post about the definition of "eligibility" for occupational therapy (or any other related service).

Seasoned veterans of IEP's know the well practiced dialogue that is used by some school personnel to bamboozle ignorant teachers and parents alike.

A frequent reader of my early posts on both blogs would find many anecdotal stories of these twists of words and contortions of meanings that revolve around minimizing services. A favorite one that is used is "educationally relevant". Trying to get a meaningful definition of "educationally relevant" within the context of how the needs of the student are or are not met within an IEP is like trying to nail jello to a wall. To the best of my knowledge, "educationally relevant" is not defined in any of the Federal laws regarding special education.

Try asking your local special education mentor for a written definition of "educationally relevant" and then try to use that in the context of the federal regulations regarding the development of an IEP.

What teachers should know is that they are presented the same hoops of misunderstanding that parents have to jump through.

DANGER DANGER DANGER - Will Robinson

Danger, Danger Will Robinson

Please prove me wrong on this.

I was perusing the HCPS new website. The very first course of links I chose to follow (how did I know) ended up leaving me stunned.

More On Sex

For a good time, jump on this:


HIgh School Sex -It's More Than Just Sex


and, now due to circumstances on my control:

Moron Sex - After All of these years.

The Training of Coded Language-Another Brush, Another Incident, but keeping out of legal jeopardy

I spoke of the coded language that is taught in IDEA training meetings. I have spoken about obfuscation of the law by those who should know. The following is straight from a publication that is developed by the District for the District.
______________________________________________
http://www1.sdhc.k12.fl.us/~ese.dept/communicators/ESEComm1104.pdf
From : THE EXCEPTIONAL COMMUNICATOR November-December, 2004 Vol. 4 No. 4

WHAT NOT TO SAY AT IEP MEETINGS !

When parents make requests at IEP meetings there are some things that you shouldn’t say in
response; using these phrases could place the district in legal jeopardy if the parent files for
due process later on:
 We can’t do… - We don’t believe…
 No student gets more than…  It would cost too much to…
 It would take too much...  We don’t do…
 We never do…  We only do…

Instead, show you’re listening by asking:
Where did you hear about that ?
 Which IEP goals do you see that addressing ?
 Do you have data on that ? Can you get us information?
 Have we described what we’re doing in the program we’re using ?
________________________________________________________

This speaks volumes to one who understands the game. I don't care who wrote it. But it is pretty clear that the focus is on protecting the system -gate keeping if you will.It also clearly says to "show you are listening by asking...." as to "show you are listening by answering the question or addressing the issue".If one honestly looks at these feigned "listening strategies" it is no wonder that the special education realm is frustrating for all. I continually hear about teacher retention and the teacher shortage in special ed. Dealing with students and parents is a hell of task. But dealing with a system that "shows you are listening" does not work.