[Ohiogift] Published letter regarding Rosemond column

[Katie Thurston]

Thanks to all who responded to my plea. I am going to write the
district and the state re. Zach and I am thinking that homeschooling
is better than what may happen were he to remain in his current
placement.

Wish me luck.

Katie

On 6/16/13, Rosado Feger, Ana <rosadof at ohio.edu> wrote:
> Katie
>
> First of all, I would like to say I am very sorry that you and your son have
> to go through this.  No child should ever be made to feel like a failure.
>
> I only know what you have written, but it appears you may have exhausted
> what the school district can offer you.  So my suggestion is to take a
> different tack.  Instead of trying to make it work, I suggest you look
> around to see if there is a private school near you that would be able to
> serve his specific, documented medical/mental health needs.  Then argue to
> the district that instead of fitting your bright square peg into their
> ill-fitting round hole, they pay for him to go to the private school.  Our
> neighbors (in Athens) have a similar arrangement for their autistic child.
> Of course, that only works if there is an appropriate school near you (our
> neighbors drive their son to Marietta, a good hour away), and if the
> district agrees to pay.  Considering your reams of documentation, I think
> you would have a strong case. Some districts around Columbus were doing this
> for kids with learning disabilities, I have no idea if this is still the
> case.
>
> Your other choice is to homeschool through one of the two or three public
> online schools.  They are tuition-free, and in theory (or their brochures
> anyway) would allow him to move at his own pace, within limits.  As public
> charter schools, you have to follow their calendar and Zach will be required
> to take the usual standardized tests.  In any case, information is free.
> Sometimes the mere freedom in knowing you can set your own schedule can be a
> godsend.
>
> An advantage of being enrolled in a high school is that he can then qualify
> for PSEO...taking college classes for dual credit.  I think that would be
> true even if he is enrolled in the online programs.
>
> Or, sometimes you have to think of the future and make drastic changes.  My
> nephew had immense troubles in high school, much like your son.  He ended up
> being expelled in his junior year.  He tested for a GED instead and enrolled
> in college courses.  He is thriving academically now.  But, college is not
> free if you are not enrolled in high school...the dreaded Catch-22.
>
> I wish you much patience and perseverance.  I don't know that I can be much
> help, but, know that I am in your corner.
>
> Best of luck,
>
> --Ana
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ohiogift-bounces+rosadof=ohio.edu at lists.service.ohio-state.edu
> [mailto:ohiogift-bounces+rosadof=ohio.edu at lists.service.ohio-state.edu] On
> Behalf Of Katie Thurston
> Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 4:08 PM
> To: Lisa Henry
> Cc: Ohiogift at lists.service.ohio-state.edu; artsnyder44 at cs.com
> Subject: Re: [Ohiogift] Published letter regarding Rosemond column
>
> Hey all-
>
> Although it has been awhile since I perused the gifted listserve commentary,
> my quandary is the same:  how to best protect the interests of my gifted
> son, who, unlike his older sister (who excels), is failing high school after
> his first year there. This in an 'excellent' rated school district, no
> less.
>
> School for Zach has always been awful, and it shows. I have enough paperwork
> to fill a file drawer. He's been hospitalized, cajoled, labelled
> (ADHD/ODDwGAD), dismissed, and ostracized. However, I have tests results
> that verify his gifted aptitude in math, etc...
> Unfortunately, the results diminish year to year as his learning hasn't kept
> pace.
>
> My son calls himself a failure. It is easy for me to understand why. I hated
> school in many respects but like his sister, I did well. He is brilliant,
> any one who has engaged him in a conversation may sense this; yet his
> experience of school has been, for the most part, abysmal.
>
> I try to help, but the courses and methods are so much different from the
> 70's when I was in high school. I feel stymied. Z and I are discussing
> homeschooling. Again. I fear the district will try to intervene, on his
> "behalf"- although given their treatment of him, I'd posit that a strong
> court case could be made that his interests are being neglected in the name
> of the district saving face. The district's interests are its own.
>
> I'm not worried about "socialization" since where we live now, he's enough
> of an outcast since gradeschool (in part due to the ignorance of others),
> that he really has mostly online friends. And the children placed in the
> "resource" room where he has been forced to spend part of the school day are
> not all gifted.
>
> Any suggestions? I am impotently angry about the situation. I cannot afford
> a decent lawyer. And I have written to state reps in the past on behalf of
> gifted programming. Didn't get any response, at all. If I had thrown cash at
> them, I believe I would have gotten better results- but if I had said funds,
> my son would be enrolled in a school for gifted children, or perhaps even
> college by now.
>
> Thanks for your time.
>
> Katie Thurston
>
> On 6/16/13, Lisa Henry <lmhenry at zoominternet.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>> -------- Original message --------
>> From: Art Snyder <artsnyder44 at cs.com>
>> Date: 06/16/2013  2:46 PM  (GMT-05:00)
>> To: Ohiogift at lists.service.ohio-state.edu
>> Subject: [Ohiogift] Published letter regarding Rosemond column
>>
>> Mary Collier's letter to her local newspaper regarding John Rosemond's
>> parenting column was a breath of fresh air and clarity on behalf of
>> everyone involved in gifted ed.
>>
>> I'm really glad she (and perhaps others) have taken Rosemond to task
>> for his consistently dismissive response to gifted service and the
>> students who ultimately benefit.
>>
>> Bravo, Mary!
>>
>> Best wishes,
>> Art Snyder
>>
>>
>
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