I’d rather be pole dancing
“Extended School Year” … ESY … basically summer school for kids when mandated in the IEP.
Pearlsky’s starts Monday.
Here is the email I sent today to the Assistant Superintendent for Student Services:
I know you have seen the emails about the ESY start time. It is actually a worse situation than outlined, but this email is about a different topic.
I just got the “calendar” for the ESY and it is headed with this sentence:
“This year’s Extended School Year staff has created a high quality six-week program designed to prevent substantial regression in those critical skill areas that are likely to be impacted by an extended summer recess.”
It is good to know that the goal of this “high quality” program is to prevent “substantial” regression. Can you please tell me exactly how much regression is allowed and acceptable? I assume “minor” regression is not an issue. How about daily regression?
In the past, maintaining current levels was the norm. ESPECIALLY in “critical skill areas” … no?
Do you hire babysitters with the rule and goal … as long as they prevent “substantial” harm to my kid? How can you have the astonishingly low goal, in your “high quality” program, of preventing substantial regression?
Morons.
Oh, and yes, this time I really am back.
And yes, I’d rather be pole dancing.
Forgive me for being so blunt, but as a “single mom, disabled daughter” AND a former special education and English teacher, you strike me as someone for whom having a disabled child is a very convenient channel through which to vent ALL of your general frustrations. I seriously doubt that any program, or program description, would satisfy you.
So a goal of anything other than “substantial regression” is okay with you? I never had a problem with any other program description. Pearlsky’s IEP mentions specifically the notion of “maintaining skills, abilities, and therapeutic results” during ESY. I did not want to also highlight that the program’s goal is a contradiction.
General frustrations? Umm, no.
I agree with Barbara.
Do you agree that it is okay to have such a low goal for the program or that I just would never be satisfied?
It’s okay to be blunt, but it’s not okay to be mean. I hate mean people.
What’s wrong with pole dancing? I think you’ve almost insulted pole dancers by comparing them to school officials and the ESY objectives. How do you know I’m not a pole dancer and a mother of a child with severe disabilities?
Actually, I meant it literally. I’d rather be pole dancing than dealing with this!
I was parked next to a minivan the other day that had on its rear window “I’d rather be pole dancing.” I am disappointed I did not get to see who got into the van to drive away … was she young and hot? and older grandmother? a single dad?
Or, better yet, was it you?
Alas, one of the queens of pole dancing as exercise — the S Factor — has her studio up the street from me, and I’ve never considered it. Until now.
Nicely put, Elizabeth. And Kandee, I don’t feel my statement was mean. I have read enough of single dad’s posts to see that he doesn’t hesitate to state his feelings or opinions in any uncertain terms and I assume he doesn’t begrduge his commentators the same lack of filter. I respect him on many levels and he makes me shudder on some others – that’s all. Nothing mean intended – on the contrary, I was suggesting, in the same acerbic tone be uses, that a little tolerance and consideration for those on the other side of the situation might be nice.
Barbara: I absolutely do not begrudge you or others for comments. As for the tolerance, in this specific instance, there have been many things wrong during this start of ESY, and this may have been the final straw for me … the lack of vision and low goal. The feelings I may have been venting were from a build up of not-smart things the leader of ESY has been doing, not, in this case at least, “general frustrations.” That comment is probably what Kandee was referring to.
Thanks for reading and commenting … hmmmm … I make you shudder?
I could use a bit of shuddering….where do you live again?
They said it right I think. A summer school programme for normal kids would be downtime/having fun/learning different sorts of skills.
But my Autie for example would be away from his ABA, the reinforcement of his parents, his good school. I would expect him to regress if not being reinforced, e.g in PECS and ABA skills.
It is not realistic I imagine for a summer school programme to be able to replicate a kids normal routine, and so regression would be expected.
So it sounds like they are being honest, and have expressed an honest and perhaps realistic goal.
Thats my take on it.
But should the goal not be “keep the status quo” or “minimal regression at most”? Personally, I think for many kids those are reasonable and realistic. This is a self described “high quality” program, it really should have a higher goal than to “prevent substantial regression.” At least try!
Yeah I guess something like “Maintain skills and prevent regression” is better if achievable. And those skills are hard won, so to have them lost or weakened would not be good. I would be wanting someone working with my child during that period maintaining his skills, I would pay for that.
The program discription stinks.. How’s about putting it ” with the ESY we will strive to continue our IEP goals” now that works … And as far as the pole dancing SD was not knocking it ( although the pic of him on a pole give me the chills) I would rather be golfing
Ed
You’re my new best friend, Mr. Ed. And don’t worry, I won’t take you to the dance club … 😉
Actually, it’s Single Dad’s blog and if he wants to be snarky he can. Don’t like it? Don’t read it. And I’d rether IEP goals be a little unreachaqble than too easy. I gather that we have missed the whole story and this email has to do with other aspects of the program beyond the description. And isn’t it a shame that something you could welcome as smut, like pole dancing, has been taken over by the health and exercise nuts? Next thing you know they’ll find a way to make male strippers the spokespeople for yoga.
It was my van, I admit it.
As a mom relatively new to this gig, although 5 years seems like a lifetime in some moments, I appreciate coming here and reading all the comments., whatever the post content. You all have such insightfulness, with a side of humor, that helps me navigate this journey with a bit more grace.
Thanks for that.
Well, since most states use the “subtantial regression will occur without ESY” as the determination as to WHO is qualified for ESY. Their statement was, technically, correct. ESY is happening because without it, the kids will regress.
Ideally, skills with be maintained or even (dare I hope) progress. I’ve never been thrilled with ESY — pulled my kid out once due to an incompetent teacher doing more harm than good. The last few years have been better, but still far less than they could be.
Erin, you are absolutely correct and that is why Pearlsky is in the program. But what should the goal be? Anything short of “substantial regression”? It turns out in Pearlsky’s case, the continuation of PT and OT actually keeps her maintaining her status, hence no regression at all. I won’t tell them, they will think she is doing too well and who knows what they will do …
The goal should be continued progress! When I taught ESY (ages 3-8, severe autism), my goals for the kids always focused on increasing functioning in the community (as we could do daily field trips in the summer, urban campus, lots within walking distance). While it wasn’t as ‘structured’ as the regular year, everything we did was designed to improve their functional level, not just prevent regression of any kind.
Mmmm…Poles…
God Ken…you make me laugh so hard. Thank you very much.
Ah, Single Dad 🙂 It’s good to see you back!
What Lindsay said. And taking all the laughs from the comments I can get.
This post gave me some hope in a roundabout way, because I realized that it must mean that Pearlsky has some skill areas that I hadn’t been aware of. If substantial regression is unacceptable, then there must have been substantial progress made, correct?
What “we” and by that I mean, the school system I work for, I certainly don’t set up the guidelines :), is that it is expected that a “typical” child will take up ro 6 weeks to re establish already learned skills and if a child with a disability will take longer than 6 weeks, he/she is eligible for the ESY program.
Honestly, I am not a big fan of the ESY programs I have known and would prefer that an all day therapeutic camp was made affordable and available for most of the kids I teach.
Lisa
And isn’t it a shame that something you could welcome as smut, like pole dancing, has been taken over by the health and exercise nuts? Next thing you know they’ll find a way to make male strippers the spokespeople for yoga.
for JWG, I am disheartened by your perception of pole dancing as something that can be viewed as smut…
So those of us who do choose to enjoy it (as exercise or as a means to feel good about ourselves/sexy)are condoning it as smut? Perhaps it would give you a broader perspective if you read up on the benefits of it as “exercise” or if you actually gave it a try?
I think SD would enjoy it immensely, actually!