So fed up with my job--vent and advice

[thriftyqueen]

I work as an aide in an public elementary school in my town. I work with an autistic boy who is functioning academically at a K-1 grade level, but is in the 4th grade. He receives no services, but speech therapy every week. Even though his tests show he is low functioning the school does nothing about helping him.

As his aide, I am required to "teach" him everything. He cannot participate in much of any of the 4th grade class work so I spend most of my days in the hall with him reteaching him everything he has learned for the past 3-4 years. He do not have a teaching degree or even a para professional degree, but I am in charge of teaching him reading, spelling, math, and grammar. I also modify all of his social studies and science so he can understand it. I get paid $8.97 per hour. I also am expected to fill in for recess duty (even when it is -15 below zero). Yesterday, his speech teacher told me that she forgot about his scheduled time and wanted me to play a speech game with him. This is the only special service he receives and I was so angry. He needs to be in a resource room, but the school doesn't want to do anything to help him.

Fortunately, I am a very bright person and have been able to make it through this year (so far) only because my mom was a teacher for 30 years and she gives me ideas of what to do. I feel bad for this child as he is neglected in so many ways because his mom is low functioning as well. They have gotten away with this for some many years and it makes me angry. He could probably be learning more if he was in a situation where there was someone working with him who had a background in autism or special ed.

Do I quit? Do I try to find out how to file a complaint? What do I do? I want to walk out right now and never come back.

[kerc]

Originally Posted by thriftyqueen

He needs to be in a resource room, but the school doesn't want to do anything to help him.

Do the parents want him there?

What does his IEP say? Do the parents advocate for him?

The teacher has 20+ students to keep track of ... it might be tricky for her to constantly remember the one kid for speech that happens once a week. Does the speech teacher come and get him when he's missing?

As far as what you do .... do you enjoy it? Would you prefer to go back to school and be that trained professional? Are you comfortable saying no to anything?

[thriftyqueen]

The speech teacher was the one who forgot him and wanted me to fill in and do his speech yesterday. She said she didn't have time and forgot about it. This is nothing new. The whole school treats this child like this. They all think is weird, smelly and don't really care about him.

I am not really allowed to see his IEP, but from what I understand his IQ is very low and he is classified as MR. I have no training or understanding of most of this so I don't really know how it all works.

The dad committed suicide a few years ago and the mom is not mentally able to advocate for him so she has no clue what is going on. This is why they are getting away with having an aide teach him and provide curriculum for him.

I feel so clueless about what I am doing and have had no training. I just sit in the hall every day all day teaching and providing resources to teach him when I have no background to go on. I don't enjoy it because I have no idea what I am doing.

[kerc]

awww. That sounds like an awful situation to be in -- both for the child and yourself. How does a speech teacher forget a student? Isn't her day all about meeting with students on a regularly scheduled basis?

If it were me I'd say it looks like two choices:

• Do the best you can with the resources you have and know that you ARE making a difference in that child's life.
• Decide you just can't do it anymore and ask for a reassignment.

It isn't an easy choice to make, it sounds like an all around tough situation. You are more than half way there though -- so perhaps sticking it out and asking for reassignment next year is the way to go?

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

Actually, I think you have a third option, though before you start you probably have to be ready to leave if people decide to take out their frustration on you when you start "making waves".

This child clearly needs an advocate for him. I would start be scheduling a meeting with the principal to discuss the situation. If she/he is unreponsive, then I would move up to the district level. Is there an office for special ed? Maybe they have some suggestions for next steps. Also, who do you report to and have you discussed this situation with that person? That's probably the first thing you need to do, mostly as a CYA move.

[*MamaJen*]

He sounds like he needs someone to advocate for him. What would he do if he were your child? Could you talk to whomever oversees mental health services for the school district and tell them you think he needs to be in a different setting?

[thriftyqueen]

The crazy part is, I have gone to the principal, the case manager, and the autism team. They all just feel that since he doesn't have behavior issues and that he doesn't need help with the bathroom that he is fine. He could move to a different school in the system and get the help he needs, but they have never told the mom that it is an option. I am not sure how I can advocate for him any more than I have already done. What I want to do is somehow make the family (the mom) understand that they are not doing anything to help him or get him the services he needs. He is in 4th grade and needs to be learning some life skills so he function in the world in the future. He doesn't even know how to tie his shoes or cut with a scissor, but they want him learning all this science and social studies that is far above his level of understanding that it makes no sense.

The classroom teacher is annoyed because he is taking up space in her room and the MR teacher sees him for 30 mins a week (when it works) to try to help me get materials for him. Otherwise I am on my own.

I think that I am going to start looking for a transfer in the district. It is just too much stress on me. I want to fix the problem, but my hands are tied because I am the low man on the totem pole. It is very sad for this child.

[meandmine]

Blow the whistle -- LOUD! Find out if there is an ombudsman for your district.

This is outrageous.

Ok, so the school system is paying for a full-time aide -- that is awesome and costly, but they are not providing services and I bet they are out of compliance with his IEP.

Personally, unless you cannot risk losing your job, I would anonymously blow the whistle -- provide documentation.

I also don't understand how the aid who works with him all day is not privy to his IEP -- how can you be effective without knowing what is in his plan?

I am so sorry for you and for him.

Hugs,

M