From: Mary.Haunreiter@f114.n105.z1.fidonet.org (Mary Haunreiter)
Newsgroups: k12.ed.special
Subject: Re: EMOTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 92 17:21:36 PDT
Organization: FidoNet node 1:105/114 - The Electronic Educ, Washougal WA

Hi, 
   I have had a very rollery coaster week with the varied students I work with, lots of emotional ups and downs.  One of our tougher types was arrested at school for assault yesterday, he threw one of my other student's head into a locker.  It was between classes and the other teacher and I had gone to the main office.  When I returned the kids were all talking about it and the injured boy was gone, I found him disoriented (he is a brain injury case) and once I him secured, sent for the vice-principal - an

yway there was an long drawn out arrest and they left me with this kid to keep him calm until they could take him away, 45 minutes during which time they interviewed witnesses.  I am often the "good guy" in discipline situations, I am able to have a good relationship with even the toughest of the tough, its not a ploy, I am just able to communicate with these especially hurt kids.  So, the powers that be use me in that capacity often, sometimes I can keep a student from making things worse.  
     We do get personally involved with our students, some more or some less, depending on the needs.  We also have a "at risk" program in our high school where kids who don't qualify for Special Ed. are taught.  I work alot with those students as well, and some of our students are also mainstreamed into those classes.  They do alot of self awareness things to and once a week we have a Drug and Alcohol Counselor who runs a program called "Better Choices". The students must sign up to attend this class and 

many things are discussed besides drugs and alcohol, the kinds of topics you mentioned in your message.  I go to these group sessions often with some of my students.  I'm also on of a "core" team of teachers and staff members who act as interventionists with students identified as having drug/alcohol/emotional problems.  We target those kids on a personal level, touching down with them and providing them with a friend/advocate/home base for their problems.  We determine how serious their problems are and i

f needed refer them for rehabilitation.   
   I attended a meeting this morning and one of the topics discussed was the need for a alternative school in our school district.  We are getting stretched between the needs of our learning disabled kids and our BD kids and kind of feel like we are not covering all our bases to the best advantage for these kids.  I would love to work in an alternative school since those are my favorite kids and who I've ended up being with most of the time.  
  Are all your kids "clean and sober" to be able to attend or qualify for your school, or if a student goes back to using is he/she allowed to stay or I guess come back after rehab?  Do you have a Drug and Alcohol counseler on staff.  How many staff members are there?  
   Its interesting to hear from another area.  I have two sons attending Western Washington University in Bellingham, if I go up to visit them I would love to visit your school.


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