hi,I had a similar problem with my a.d.h.d 11yr old son last school year.The problem was that my son had just recently started medication and had refused to take it one morning. At luch that day they had rainy day recess , which means indoor recess.Aparently my son was acting out , being hyper, bouncy, and out of control.We had been previosly been having meetings ,fighting with school to find son eligable for services , (he is also dyslexic )The principal was not helpful in the process ,rather was seeming as if he really did not want my son to get the help he needed. Anyways my son received a citation and was sent to the office for the rest of the day and told that on any future rainydays my son would have to spend them in the office until the principal felt he was ready to stay in the classroom.I didn’t have much of a problem with one day , (the day of the offense)in the office but felt it was excesive to punish him for future recesses , from a past offenses.I felt it was to really punish my son , rather than teach cause and effect of good and bad behavior. I am a firm believer that the punishment should fit the crime and that once time is paid (the more imediate the better )then the children should be able to start fresh the next day.It would do my child no good to be pre punished and not given a seccond chance at inside recess.I wrote the prinipal and told him we do not agree with the plan and that we expect that our son will not be in the office for recess again unless he did something that day to deserve it.The pal did not respond to us , but we found out he let my son stay in class , but went in to Watch “how he would behave”. This principal was a big thorn in our sides and we were very happy when he left the school.He son is doing great this year and has the best teacher he has ever had !!!!! I reall hope you stick to your guns about excessive punishments, it only makes it harder for our kids to want to do good , if people are always asuming or pre punishing and pre judging them what incentive do they have to try to please these adults ? I wish you and your child all my luck and best wishes for sucess and happiness. Galadriel: It’s been a while since I posted here. I’m in need of help again.: 9-year-old son is gifted and has ADHD. We finally got the medication
: figured out and he is doing well in school. This year’s teacher is
: very understanding and lets him do things other teachers would
: never consider, like she lets him take his spelling test sitting
: on the floor under his desk, using his chair as a desk. She
: figures there is no harm, it makes him happy, he concentrates and
: gets 100%. I like her attitude, especially after dealing with
: teachers in the past, like the one that sent a negative note home
: with him every single day to tell me what he did wrong.: The principal continues to be a problem, however. My dad, who retired
: after teaching for 34 years, sat down and had a talk with him last
: year and asked him if he had any training with these kids, and the
: principal said no. Principal put my son into in-school suspension
: three times last school year — 3 times. At that time we were
: still working through trying to get the right medication, so son
: was a little rowdy, but certainly not dangerous. We ended up
: having a conference with psychologist, school counselor, teacher,
: me, and my parents (they are very involved in son’s life since I’m
: divorced and ex has never chosen to be a part of son’s life).
: School counselor said to leave principal out of the meeting, so we
: did.: Principal backed off and even commented at open house this year that
: son is doing much better.: Well, here it is January and right before Christmas break my son told
: me that back in October the principal falsely accused him of
: something and put him at “the trouble table” in the
: lunchroom. Principal told him he has to sit there for the rest of
: the school year. What happened was sitting at lunch one day, my
: son was sitting by a little boy, 2 girls grabbed the boy’s toy,
: and my son grabbed it back from the girls to give it back to the
: boy. The principal saw PART of this and decided my son was the
: guilty party. As always, the principal refused to listen to my
: son’s side of the story.: I called right before Christmas and asked son’s teacher if she knew
: about this event. She wasn’t aware he was at the “trouble
: table” but said she would check and let me know. I haven’t
: heard from her.: We are now seeing a different psychologist due to insurance reasons
: and I don’t like this one as much as the one that went to the
: conference with us. When I called to update her on how my son was
: doing with his new meds I told her about this trouble table
: business. She said, “Well, I’m sure the principal had valid
: reasons for putting him there.” She said this without knowing
: the background of the problems we (and many other parents) have
: had with this man.: I’m off work for several days and wondering if I should call and talk
: to the principal directly. If so, what type of information should
: I be armed with? Seems like his method of sticking the ADHD kids
: (several of which are always at the trouble table) will brand them
: or label them as bad kids, and that kind of stigma can certainly
: affect their feeling of self worth and follow them throughout
: their lives. Plus, the other kids will view these kids as trouble.: I don’t want to call and simply sound like a pushy mom insisting that
: he take my son out of the trouble table. But kids can’t always
: defend themselves, especially from someone who refuses to believe
: ADHD is a valid illness.: Any good ideas out there on what I should said when I call the
: principal? Should I start out by asking how long he intends to
: leave my son at the trouble table? Should I ask him exactly
: behavior modification he hopes my son will gain by sitting there
: all year?: I can’t see anything positive coming from my son sitting there ALL
: YEAR. But if I make him mad, I’m afraid he’ll retaliate and my son
: will suffer.: Thanks!