And to prove the vision problems

Conversation as soon as I picked up the kids today:

Andrew: Oh my God, guess what?

Me: What?

Andrew: I got in the wrong van today.

Me: Oh No. You're kidding me. What happened?

Andrew: It pulled up and stopped right in front of me, so I opened the door, Then I looked harder at the woman, and she had glasses, and I thought This isn't my mom. I didn't say that though.

Me: What did you say?

Andrew: Nothing.

Me: What did the woman say?

Andrew: She just said Wrong van.

Me: Oh man, that sucks. I'm so sorry that happened. Did anyone else see it?

Kyley: SO many people saw it. Everyone was laughing.

Andrew: Yeah. Everyone saw it.

Me: Oh no. Were you embarassed?

Andrew: Well, not really.

A Blind Witness?

Dear Guidance Counselor,

I understand that you did not see what happened. I would recommend that next time you choose a student to be your witness, you choose one who does not have vision problems due to a brain-tumor. Also, when he told you that he didn't see what happened, I don't appreciate you calling him a liar, and telling him that if he didn't start telling the truth that he would get suspended. Yes, he is seated in the front of the class, it is in his DOCTOR'S ORDER. This doesn't make him the class babysitter. Uummm, that would be the teacher's job. Where was she at? Next time you choose a witness, choose one who can see. And also, you are the GUIDANCE COUNSELOR. Is it your regular practice to treat kids like this? Seriously? Oh-yeah, one more thing, my fiance didn't appreciate you intimidating his son, and he also didn't appreciate that when I went into the school to explain the situation to you, you were in no way apologetic, and in fact, when I told you that Andrew couldn't see, your reply was "Well, can he hear?" He didn't do anything wrong. When you got there, he was still seated nicely in his chair. I can't even believe that you were threatening SUSPENSION because he didn't make a good enough witness for you. JERK!!!

Cut the boy some slack!

OK, another look into the e-mail inbox. Man, that seems to be all this blog is about lately. Alright, I promise, this is the last one for a while. And, in this one I was VERY nice, because I know when to use the honey to catch the bees.

Ms. Teacher,

Hi!

I have a concern about Andrew today.

He says that he is positive that he put his homework folder in the appropriate place. He says that when you looked it wasn't there. He says that he had break detention because of it. He is worried that he will continue to have break detention, and not get homework passes because now he doesn't know where the folder is.

I know that he is trying extremely hard, and was so excited to get a homework pass last week.

Background info:

Andrew has cancer, and has no vision in one eye and limited vision in the other. He has had radiation treatments, which have affected his cognition. We are waiting for his first IEP meeting, have already spoken to a counselor, and understand that they will schedule it as soon as they can.

I only bring this up because is there any way that he could have placed the homework folder close to the box and not actually in the box due to his vision problems?

I looked through his bookbag and it is not there. I am more than willing to help him look through his locker, but I am hoping to avoid having to come to the school to help him find it, as this would be embarrassing for him.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions, as I am not sure what to do to help him.



Thanks so much,

Heidi Underhill McQueen

And the e-mail I received:

Ms. Underhill,

Andrew's folder was found. It was placed into the wrong class's homework tray. Since it was not signed, I gave it to the student in that class who has the same class number as Andrew. During planning yesterday, I checked into what happened to Andrew's folder. The other student returned it to me this morning and I then gave it to Andrew and explained what happened. Hopefully he will remember to bring it home tonight and you can sign it.

Thanks for your understanding and have a good day.

Ms. Teacher

I completely understand that we haven't had an IEP meeting yet. But we TOLD Ms. Teacher that Andrew had cancer and vision problems. When he told her that he turned it in during class that day, and she couldn't find it, could she not just take a little peek into the tray right next to the "correct" tray? It would have been on top of the pile. Did she HAVE to give him detention for placing it the wrong tray? OK, I understand it was his fault, but he has been trying SO hard. And now he has a DETENTION on the record. blah! Cut the boy some slack!!!