School Success

Well, Jason started back to school on Monday.  So far, everything seems okay.  He likes his schedule and says he likes all of his teachers.  There is nothing more scary for the parent of a bipolar child than the start of a new school year.  You go into it with high hopes, but you know that, at some point during the year, there will be at least one (if not more) "incident" that involves going up to the school and visiting with one of the assistant principals.  But here's hoping that doesn't happen!

It is only the third day of school, and I have already had to deal with a little controversy.  Jason originally wanted to have band as his elective, but we didn't know he would have to audition for the instrument he wanted to play.  So, on the second day of school I called the office to try and get his schedule changed so that his elective would be choir.  Fortunately, the school got back with me this morning, and said that everything would be taken care of.  The only class that has to be moved is English.  Jason is taking a "Pre-AP" English class this year.  The "AP" stands for advanced placement.  For a full description of what Pre-AP and AP courses are, click here.  Later this afternoon, the diagnostician for ARD (admission, review, and dismissal process for special education) contacted me asking if we could schedule Jason's re-admit ARD meeting.  We were able to get that scheduled for this coming Monday, but during the course of our conversation she indicated that one of Jason's teachers already had some "concerns" about Jason in her class.  As the parent of a child with Bipolar Disorder, my first thoughts were, "Oh my goodness, here we go already!  What did he do?"  She told me I could contact the Special Ed. Director at his school, and she would give me more information.  So I did.

I told her that I had been informed that a teacher was already having concerns about Jason, and I asked her if she could go into more detail.  She said that his new English teacher was just given notice that Jason was being moved from the class in which he was originally scheduled into her class, and based on Jason's record with being in the special education program and having been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder she wasn't sure if Pre-AP was best for him.  She was concerned that it would be "too advanced" for a student with his complications.  The assumption she made, which is common, is that students like Jason can't handle the pressure of an advanced class.  While I will acknowledge that Jason does get frustrated easily, it isn't fair to assume that he won't be successful in her class.

All kinds of fears creep up in my mind.  Is she going to be waiting for him to fail?  Looking for it even?  Is she going to give him just as fair a shot as the other students in her class, or is Jason just a ticking time bomb in her eyes?  Well, I have to trust that things will work out the way they are supposed to, and I have to hope that, even though she has already brought this to someone else's attention, she will try to keep an open mind on Jason's behalf.  Every year I open the lines of communication with Jason's teachers by emailing them and asking them to let me know how he is behaving, how he is performing, and if they have any questions or concerns they need to address with me.  I will be sending those emails to his teachers on Monday.  I am hoping if she does have any issues she will feel free to share that with me.  Communication is key between me and his teachers, and I know that all of us working together can help Jason be successful in school.  Of course, alot of it is up to Jason, too.  So, here's to another school year...may it be a successful one!