Should I send him back to private school?

thriftyqueen · 10-31-2009, 09:19 AM

My son went to a private Christian school for K and 1st. My dad, who is a speech pathologist, told me that DS needed speech for his R sounds. The private school doesn't offer much in terms of these services so we enrolled him in public school this year (2nd grade).

After nearly 2 months of school, they finally got around to testing him for speech and they told me that with the new scale they use, he is not eligible for speech even though he can't say his R sound. They say they would retest him in Feb, but it is not a guarantee that he will be eligible then either.

I would have my dad work with him, but he lives across the country so that doesn't exactly work. My dad did send me book to work on with him so I feel we can help him at home.

Anyway, my son is doing okay at the new school, but not great. He had a wonderful group of friends at the private school, but he is just not fitting in with the kids at the new school. He only plays with kindergarten kids at recess because they accept him and he is not shy around them. We are very conservative and he just doesn't "fit in". Also, I work at the school he is now at so it makes the decision of sending him back harder.

So, if you were in my position, would you send your child back to the private school now or wait until next school year? We intended to have him go back to the private school after he finished speech therapy, but since he is not eligible, that is not an issue.

elmh23 · 10-31-2009, 11:29 AM

I would send him back. And in February, go to the public school and ask for an evaluation, but say that you will not be taking your child out of the private school. At least here (NM), they will work with your child even if they are in a private school. The only thing is that they only have appts during the school day, so you would need to take your child out of school a couple hours once a week to recieve care. The private school my children attend is very accomodating to this.

Good luck!

pammysue · 10-31-2009, 11:45 AM

Yes, I think you should take him back to the private school. He should still be able to receive services from the school district even if he is not enrolled at the public schools (though in my experience some school districts will tell you differently).

Have you talked to the private school? They may have encountered this before and can help you with the district. Remember, you are the tax payer; don't be afraid to advocate for your child.

Linda on the move · 10-31-2009, 11:54 AM

another vote for putting him back where he is happy and has friends (can you do it Monday?) and working with him daily at home (with your dad's input and support).

Is private speech therapy an option?

If people you work with ask, just say that the other school turned out to be a better fit and then change the subject. Try not to say anything negative about the school where you work, but put your son in the best place for him.

mattemma04 · 10-31-2009, 02:57 PM

If it were my child I would move him back to the private school.No need to wait till next year.Best wishes whatever you decide.

lindberg99 · 11-01-2009, 03:57 PM

Yes, I'd send him back now. The odds of him ever receiving speech therapy through the school district for a simple articulation problem are slim to none. My 3rd grader had trouble with his -th sounds. The therapist at school gave him an informal assessment. She said that he did have an issue with -th but there was no way he would ever qualify for therapy because he had good language skills and the articulation issue was not affecting his learning or social activities. My kindergartener is in speech therapy through the college clinic for articulation issues. His preschool teacher couldn't even get him an evaluation through the school district.

Do you have medical insurance? Sometimes that will pay for an evaluation and therapy. Or if you're lucky like I am, there is a college with a speech pathology program that will do therapy for free, as long as you don't mind having a student therapist.

**LynnS6** · 11-02-2009, 03:28 PM

Another vote for taking him back to private school. I'm a firm advocate of public schools, but it sounds like he had a good community in the private school, and was thriving there.

R sounds CAN be late with some kids. I wouldn't make my schooling choices dependent on pronunciation issues, especially if that's his only language issue.

Depending on where you live, the public schools are most likely still responsible for providing him therapy, if he qualifies. The catch is that you'll have to do the transporting. So, as someone else suggested, have him retested in the school in Feb, and if he qualifies, then you can deal with it then.

zinemama · 11-02-2009, 03:43 PM

If you can afford it, and you were happy with the school I would put him back now.

And in the future I would also hesitate to base important parenting decisions on medical advice from a family member, even if it is his area of expertise.

aniT · 11-02-2009, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinemama

If you can afford it, and you were happy with the school I would put him back now.

And in the future I would also hesitate to base important parenting decisions on medical advice from a family member, even if it is his area of expertise.

:

thriftyqueen · 11-02-2009, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinemama

If you can afford it, and you were happy with the school I would put him back now.

And in the future I would also hesitate to base important parenting decisions on medical advice from a family member, even if it is his area of expertise.

I understand exactly what you are saying and from any other family member, I would be hesitant, but with my dad, I can always trust his judgment. He is not the type to jump the gun on things, blow things out of proportion or anything, so I do trust him.

I think in hindsight, I should have had him evaluated in our school district last spring (since each school district is different in their scales, programs, etc. ) and then I would have known if our particular school system would take him for speech. I don't blame my dad for a moment. I did this out of his suggestion, but I should have looked into the options a little better here. That was my fault for sure. The headache would have been avoided if I hadn't jumped the gun and assumed he would be eligible in our district.

Thanks for everyone's advice. I really appreciate the insight!

Kirsten · 11-07-2009, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lindberg99

Yes, I'd send him back now. The odds of him ever receiving speech therapy through the school district for a simple articulation problem are slim to none.

Do you have medical insurance? Sometimes that will pay for an evaluation and therapy. Or if you're lucky like I am, there is a college with a speech pathology program that will do therapy for free, as long as you don't mind having a student therapist.

When we were kids, you'd get speech therapy in schools for this. Now - no way. Mainstreaming (though I like it - no flames please) has put kids with much bigger issues in front of kids who are considered to have minor issues. I have a Speech Path degree. My friends who work in public schools don't have ANY kids with the issues we were taught to correct in college.

I agree that a college program would be a great way to deal with this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinemama

If you can afford it, and you were happy with the school I would put him back now.

I agree. And honestly, your kid can get any school district services/options whether he attends there or not. He can get speech therapy (if he qualifies), he can participate in sports or music. They aren't required to transport your kid, but they have to give him access - if he lives within the district boundaries, even if he doesn't attend.

So you wouldn't have had to move him to get him services IF he had qualified. You would have had to drive him over there though.

**spalaura** · 11-10-2009, 10:14 AM

If you can afford it, and your child and you are happy, bring him back to the private school. I just found out that my public school district does not address articulation, which floored me. You can try to get services later from your district if the /r/ does not improve, but you may have to go the private route with it anyway.

ChinaDoll · 11-10-2009, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirsten

I agree. And honestly, your kid can get any school district services/options whether he attends there or not. He can get speech therapy (if he qualifies), he can participate in sports or music. They aren't required to transport your kid, but they have to give him access - if he lives within the district boundaries, even if he doesn't attend.

So you wouldn't have had to move him to get him services IF he had qualified. You would have had to drive him over there though.

Agreeing that the local district should still give evaluations/services (if he qualifies; his seems mild so he may not) whether or not your son attends PS. Definitely check with your CS, though; my DH is the headmaster of the local CS here, and our CS actually provides the transport to and from the PS for students who qualify for district intervention!

Hatteras Gal · 11-14-2009, 11:34 AM

If he was happier at the private school, I'd send him back.

Have you checked out MSU? Dd2 goes there for speech 2x a week and gets therapy at school. She's been at MSU since last fall and she is SO much more understandable. They are really great.

thriftyqueen · 11-14-2009, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatteras Gal

If he was happier at the private school, I'd send him back.

Have you checked out MSU? Dd2 goes there for speech 2x a week and gets therapy at school. She's been at MSU since last fall and she is SO much more understandable. They are really great.

Thanks! I will look into MSU! Can you PM me the number I should call?