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My son has AD/HD and was diagnosed when he was in 2nd grade. He is now in 6th grade. He was put on a 504 a couple years ago. He is only taken out of the classroom for big tests, such as the Benchmarks. For all other everyday testing, he is in the classroom with his peers. Here is my situation: Last week he was in his last class of the day taking a routine math test. He had been placed at the back of the room at the 'bad table', as it is known as, earlier in the class. After they had started the test, the principal walks in, talks to the teacher for a few minutes, then leaves the room. He re-enters the room approx. 5 minutes later (according to my son) and comes straight to my son's desk and says "Is that all you have done since I've been gone??". My son was very embarrassed that he had been pointed out to everyone that he wasn't as far as the rest of the class on the test. I questioned my son about his behavior during the test, thinking that maybe he had been either posssibly talking or laughing or goofing off...anything that would require the principal to address him this way for being off task, etc....He assured me that he had not been doing any of that. He said the only thing he was doing was tapping his pencil and staring off, but as many of you know, kids with AD/HD tend to do that, especially when they are trying to focus!! I called the principal and retold the story, just as my son had told me, and as I have told it here. He asked how would I have handled it differently and I suggested he could have taken him out into the hall to speak with him...(then nobody would have had to know that it was because he wasn't as far ahead as he 'should' be). The principal informed me that he disagreed with me and that if it would have been his own child he would have, and I quote, "jerked a knot in his tail". I was appalled!! I asked him if any of his children had AD/HD and he said no. I told him that he had no idea then. He asked what I wanted him to do and I told him I feel it appropriate that he apologize for embarrasing my son. He flat out said he wasn't going to do that. I told him that I would just have to take it to the school board then and he smugly said, "well you go ahead and call, any day of the week, any time of the day if that's what you feel you need to do!" then without a hesitation, he said "you have a good day" and hung up on me!! I was IRATE to say the least. I feel my son was discriminated against in the most awful way in this situation. For one, to embarrass my child in this way when self esteem and confidence around 'normal' peers is already a factor for children with AD/HD and then to laugh smugly at me and be so defensive toward me for protecting my son and his rights! I feel so helpless right now just because I don't know what to do! I DESPERATELY would like ANY advice on what to do now?? I won't stop until something is done for the PRINCIPAL acting this way! I cannot believe someone in that position could act so unprofessional, innappropriate, and immature!! Where I am at this point is waiting for the school 504 coordinator to return my call. Thank you sooooo much in advance for ANY advice I can get in this matter. ↓
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