(no subject)

[terrypurple73]

It's a busy week ahead, it seems. I have a meeting this morning with one of my families at the kid's middle school. He's been suspended over seemingly small things twice, and they've said that a third suspension can mean expulsion. It seems absurd to expel a kid who isn't having outbursts, who isn't violent, who's been at the school for all of a month, when his biggest crimes seem to be not wanting to go to class and supposed disrespect. Hmmm, let's think about why a kid would be anxious to go to class when he's just transferred to his third school of the school year, is in 7th grade, just got returned to his mom's custody after 9 months with relatives in foster care, and is living in a homeless shelter. Plus, he's the second of five kids- almost six- his mom is due this month. And, you know, puberty. It's not like he has a lot going on in his brain right now and could use some understanding, as opposed to punishment, from his new school. Unfortunately, our neighborhood school at the shelter is geared as a feeder into the nearby high school's IB program, so the middle school tends to not take very good care of its kids who don't fit that mold. It's so frustrating. Then they're upset that he didn't want to talk to the school counselor or social worker. Why would he? Everyone else at the school aside from the security guard keeps getting him in trouble- why would he trust someone else in the office? So I'm going in this morning with him and his mom to try to help advocate for him. I'm kind of nervous, since I don't usually have adversaries in the school system. We'll see how it goes.
Also, my grandma is doing really poorly. The nurses said on Thursday that this is the beginning of the end. I imagine I could be home for a funeral as soon as later this week. It's her time, and while the situation is sad and difficult, I also hope that it doesn't drag out. She's not coherent really, and is so miserable. I hope it's as easy of a transition as can happen, for all of us.

Comments

[peachnettie.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a lot to handle, especially during pregnancy. I'm so sorry. I hope your grandma's passing is as peaceful as it can be.

[demonbaby19.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry about your grandma. It's difficult to be away from home when that's happening.

[corenrind]

I'm sorry about your grandma. I hope you're all able to be well, after.

I thought your explanation of the school issues was really insightful. Since I'm starting to train in school counseling, sometimes I think about pros and cons I want to be aware of when I start working -- like advantages and disadvantages to being an official in the system, vs. helpful roles outside it. Anyway, you articulated one I hadn't thought about before: when the school has completely antagonized a student, the student has the right to say NO THANK YOU and mistrust them when they offer "help." And what next?

This guy's obviously SO lucky to have you advocate for him! Do you think your role will be to help them change their approach to him, so their involvement will start making it better? Or could things improve if they just gave him time and got off his back? School is an interesting venue for counseling, to me, because it's a part of a kid's life they can't easily get away from, but that's both good and bad. So he does need someone there to help him become comfortable, because he has to go... but when there's a bad relationship with school, do students always need someone outside to bridge the gap for them, I wonder?

Someday I'll probably have to stop posing questions and start answering them, huh.

(Also, I like imagining the story behind "everyone else at the school aside from the security guard." <3 Is the security guard looking out for him? That sounds pretty awesome. Go security guard!)