A Child Doesn't Get Held Back

Just wanted to share a story about one of the kids I have had the chance to work with during the last month. Let's call him Wilson - since that is his name.

Wilson is a child who just wants to play. He doesn't mean to get in trouble. He doesn't mean to act up in class. The truth is he is bored because it isn't being challenged. This boredom of course challenged his teacher. 

The teacher stayed locked in an idea about Wilson from the beginning of the school year until a few weeks before the end of the year. She was so focused on his disruption that her plan was to try to hold him back a year. This would mean doing 2nd grade all over again.

That was when I kind of came into the picture. Wilson told me what was really going on in the classroom. He explained that he was, "being picked on." I knew something was up because he was honest that he was disrupting the class.

My psychologist friend who we can call Chuck has a theory that I like a lot. It's the difference between ACTING UP and ACTING OUT. 

Wilson was really ACTING UP. He was trying to get people to see his situation. I certainly saw it and explained to the mother that she should talk to some one higher than the teacher. She did and the agreement was made to allow Wilson to test. If he passed then he was on to third grade and if not then stay in second.

Wilson tested. He will be in third grade next year. This was accomplished without any help from the teacher. This information on the teacher is being passed on to people at the school that will have to act on this pattern of behavior. 

Most teachers are really great, but this one is not. How many kids weren't as lucky as Wilson? When a child is ACTING UP all they are doing is asking for help. They want and need to be heard by ANYONE.

Once the child is ACTING OUT it is already too late. They don't feel heard because they weren't.

It takes 10-15 minutes of listening to any child to find out what is really going on. I encourage you to always take this time because without help from us to be an advocate for children they will be lost.

If too many get lost then who takes care of us? Who can you help today? 

Pass this on.