It is easy to look back on a decision and see whether it was a good one or maybe not such a good one... but when you are making that decision it seems so hard to know...
We are praying through the decision of where to put Owen next year for grade 1 , whether to keep him home entirely or whether to put him part time in a Special School...
Prayer, decisions, decisions, visits to special schools, discussions together, discussions with others...
Special Schools are quite different from the ordinary school. Guess I have never really been to one before and not sure what I expected... There are children with all sorts of needs, phobias, intense hobbies, etc. etc... and usually (necessarily) very high fences and areas with bars, extra security, etc.... hmmm....
And then there is the smell of very strong dettol...
Of course there are other programs that encourage 'real life' skills like using a cash register, weighing fruit and veg. making sandwhiches, etc. There are rooms with bright lights, flashing lights, neon bubbles and calm music... There are lots of pictures and well-labelled boxes, hooks on the wall, etc. with the child's photograph on them so they know where to put things.
Curriculums are, of course, much less academic. The child may have as their goal to eat without making such a mess (I think that is a relevant goal around our house:) their goal might be to learn to point to pictures to show what they want, or to learn to ride a bike.
...of course this is all from a Mum's perspective... my insights as a parent. Special Schools are just different.
A letter is written from a guidance officer to the school you wish to enrol your child in. The letter, intended for the staff is rather... well honest... about your child, telling in full detail their various disabilities or health concerns, stating their summary on the child's intellectual level, their need for help... probably more honest like the report cards which were all the norm before suing and political correctness issues came in.... Ok, ok, we opened our 'confidential' letter...
And so all the feelings, thoughts and swaying of views tangles in my mind. I know that decisions like this are hard to make. Hard to keep emotions, and 'gut feelings' (which can also be wrong) about things out of the way.
Humbly, back to our knees...
No comments:
Post a Comment