Anyone else think this is WRONG? About This Page:

[B.M.]

My ds(7) is in first grade. He is in the special ed program. He goes to spec ed for language arts only right now and is on consult for other classes. He is doing really well. In Kindergarten they only get S, NS, or U grades. In 1st grade they get number grades. So, this is his first year getting number grades. He made honor roll on report cards! We are about to get report cards again, and it looks like he will make honor roll again! I'm so proud of him!
They give out awards for lots of things, including honor roll here. And they have a big ceremony at the end of the year that parents come to and they acknowledge the kids on honor roll; among other things (attendance, ect).
Because he is in spec ed, they consider him not on grade level and/or recieving modified work. SO- he doesn't get recognized for honor roll! He doesn't recieve an honor roll certificate at report card time and they won't call out his name at the end of the year ceremony (even if he maintains honor roll all year)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'M MAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To me, this is discremination!!!!!! So, the kids who have learning disabilities, the kid that have to work harder for those A's and B's than the other kids, those kids can't get recognized?!?!?!?!?!?! WHAT???
And FYI: my ds IS on grade level and for example takes the same spelling test as the other 1st graders; but he uses a computer keyboard to type the words rather than write them due to fine motor skills..... THIS IS BS IN MY OPINION!!!!!
Anyways, I plan to schedule an appt with the principle- can you please HONESTLY tell me if you think it's fair?, am I over reacting? or if you agree, help me come up with a good way to word this to her and convince her that this is wrong and needs to be changed!

Thanks for letting me vent and I look forward to hearing others opinions! I'ts hard to see past my point of view, since it's my child..............

[Griffin]

I think they should absolutely recognize him for his great work. I'm sorry you have to deal with this. Good luck, and hopefully they will change their thinking.

[krisk11]

If your son is doing the same work as everyone else and the only difference is he types his answers instead of writing them then I don't see why they consider him below the class level.
Here is my view though. You can't give the same award for students working at different levels. In middle school where we are, you also get awards for honor roll and distinguished honor roll. My dd made distinguished honor roll every marking period all three years in middle school. She got the same exact award as the students who made distinguished honor roll in the lower level classes even though my dd's classes were considerably harder and moved faster. I also didn't think that was fair. Now in high school my dd's honors classes are weighted more than the on average and below average classes so those students won't get as high of a gpa as my dd.
I hope you are successful with your meeting since it sounds like the students are doing comperable work and should be judged the same. The difference between writing an answer and typing an answer shouldn't keep someone off the honor roll.

[DawnK]

This is absolutely NOT fair. Your child has worked very hard to make honor roll and should be acknowledged to that fact. Definitely speak up. I'd be there in a heartbeat. Congratulations to your son's fine work.

[jenifermg0]

That seems a bit (okay a lot) crazy. Throughout my son's elementary years, when they had award ceremonies, the spec needs children received awards right along with the rest of the school. Sometimes it would be something like, "Most Improved" or something else. As long as the child is working hard and making lots of progress, getting good marks and striving for better, I believe they should be getting awards that they earned!! Why say "Oh, your child made honor roll, but because they were doing 'different work' so they don't get an award." The child made honor roll - they should get an award too!!!

[DawnK]

I believe they need to have the teachers be all on the same wavelength and give awards to all the students fairly.

[KMB733]

I agree with the others, that is not right that your DS not get recognized at the end of the year. If he is doing the same work and earning the same grades as the other kids, he needs to be honored too. Even if he wasn't doing the same level work, I don't think it's fair. Either way, your DS should be proud of his accomplishments.

[Mares75]

I don't think it's fair either. I don't understand how he's not able to get an award for honor roll because he's doing modified work, yet on his report cards he's making the honor roll. Either he's eligible for the honor roll or not. It seems to me telling him he made the honor roll, then not recognizing him the same as everyone else is a sure fire way to discourage him.

[Teresa]

That's just wrong. At DDs' school, they have 7 levels of HR.
If your son is doing all of the work for his grade level, and being graded on it the same as the other kids, then he should receive the same accolades. If he were getting "gimmies", then no.
Pixies for a great outcome to this.

[GATechGal]

If he is making all A's then he deserves to be recognized. If special ed work is thought to be "not on grade level" then why bother to grade it with anything other than pass/fail. If his is earning a grade, then it ought to be considered just like every other student. Just as in Kris's DD's middle school, they consider the advanced level students right along with the regular class students. I'd talk to the principle about this. But remind your son that regardless of whether or not any one ELSE recognizes his work, he should be proud of his own accomplishments and not base his self worth on the attention or inattention of others.

[annc98]

I agree - what's the point of giving him grades at all if he can't get recognized for what he has accomplished? Whether he is at the same level or not (although it's great that he is), if his grades qualify for honor roll he should be recognized!

I think you are completely justified in going to talk to the principal!

[Nimros]

Your son definitely needs to be recognized for his achievement. If it's not really making honor roll, then why did they mark it as such on his report card? That's pretty inconsistent.

Please let us know what happens at your meeting. I'm glad you're going to bat for him.

[Colexis Mom]

[NarnianDVCmember]

He should be recognized for his accomplishments no matter what! I remember that was so important for me as a child and even as an adult I still want to be recognized for doing a great job. Just because he is in special ed does not mean he is any less intelligent then any other child, he just learns differently (as do all children, but that is another story) I hope that everything works out for you and your son and if not, throw a big party for him and make up your own certificate for him being in Honor roll just to let him know how wonderful he is! But I am pretty sure you show that to him everyday anyway

[BeckiO5]

I have to completely agree with you that it isn't fair at all and I'm saying this from not only a parent's perspective but also being a student who was grade levels behind in school and like your DS had to work 2-3 times harder than the others and knowing how hard it is to get grades that good(which happened rarely for me). I think the school should recognize him for his accomplishment of working hard and making Honor Roll. I think anyone who is or ever was a Special Ed Student would back you and your DS up! I think your DS should have his own special celebration or even a special award made by you recognizing how hard he has worked. P.S. You're lucky you get to work with his learning difficulties while he's younger, than later when he's in High School.