Yesterday, Marcus's high school called the police for a mental health arrest. I got the call after he was on his way to the hospital. Halpern claims they can't manage him. I have no idea what they expect me to do now.
Marcus has really been struggling at the school. Lot's of bullying and he reacts with aggression. I'm not sure what the trigger was yesterday, but evidently he physically attacked five people, two of whom had to seek medical attention. He was out of control. It embarrasses me (maybe shames me) to write this about my son. But my purpose in this blog is to tell the truth so that other families with children like Marcus don't feel alone. And I hope that these stories about school will give educators some insight into their own practices.
Let's remember, however, that the one-to-one aide quit before the first day so the school was out of compliance and, more importantly, Marcus did not have what he needed to be successful. Plus, we learned at the hospital that Marcus had been hiding his medication and not taking it. That one's on us. Halpern staff has only known him for five days so they don't know the real Marcus - the sweet, funny, imaginative young man. Now they only see a criminal; surprising given these are trained professionals in a school for children whose least restrictive environment is day treatment.
Now we are in a holding pattern while we wait for a superintendent's hearing to determine his fate. By law this is supposed to happen within five days but no one seems to follow the law. I feel confident in saying that Halpern doesn't want him. No matter that they are required by law to provide an education for my son and are the only ones around who are trained to do so. It seems very apparent now that Marcus needs the intense support of residential placement again. He would go to day treatment (school) there. Hopefully the CSE will approve that. Otherwise I have no idea what will happen.
Marcus is home and terrified about what might happen. He wants to apologize to the people he hurt. He wants to go back to school. He is completely freaked about juvenile hall or jail. Someone thought it would be smart to scare him straight. Geez, thanks for nothing. What he did is serious and it was assault, and he cannot do it again, but come on. He might be 6'2 and soon to be 14 (this Friday!), but he's very young emotionally and this sort of thing doesn't help. Not sure what will though.
Marcus has really been struggling at the school. Lot's of bullying and he reacts with aggression. I'm not sure what the trigger was yesterday, but evidently he physically attacked five people, two of whom had to seek medical attention. He was out of control. It embarrasses me (maybe shames me) to write this about my son. But my purpose in this blog is to tell the truth so that other families with children like Marcus don't feel alone. And I hope that these stories about school will give educators some insight into their own practices.
Let's remember, however, that the one-to-one aide quit before the first day so the school was out of compliance and, more importantly, Marcus did not have what he needed to be successful. Plus, we learned at the hospital that Marcus had been hiding his medication and not taking it. That one's on us. Halpern staff has only known him for five days so they don't know the real Marcus - the sweet, funny, imaginative young man. Now they only see a criminal; surprising given these are trained professionals in a school for children whose least restrictive environment is day treatment.
Now we are in a holding pattern while we wait for a superintendent's hearing to determine his fate. By law this is supposed to happen within five days but no one seems to follow the law. I feel confident in saying that Halpern doesn't want him. No matter that they are required by law to provide an education for my son and are the only ones around who are trained to do so. It seems very apparent now that Marcus needs the intense support of residential placement again. He would go to day treatment (school) there. Hopefully the CSE will approve that. Otherwise I have no idea what will happen.
Marcus is home and terrified about what might happen. He wants to apologize to the people he hurt. He wants to go back to school. He is completely freaked about juvenile hall or jail. Someone thought it would be smart to scare him straight. Geez, thanks for nothing. What he did is serious and it was assault, and he cannot do it again, but come on. He might be 6'2 and soon to be 14 (this Friday!), but he's very young emotionally and this sort of thing doesn't help. Not sure what will though.
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