How do I politely tell my son's pre-school teacher that I will not be?

Question

in need of special education services? My son is in private therapy and doing exceptionally well . . . She is incredibly well intentioned and (from what I have observed) dedicated to the well-being of the children in her class. However, she is incredibly resistant to alternative therapy and insists that the intervention programs offered by the public school system would be better suited to my child. As I do not want to spend the remainder of the school year debating the benefits of private and public therapy, again, how do I politely but firmly provide written explanation of why I will not be utilizing public services. My son will be five in October and has expressive speech and social delays. Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

Missvictoria couldn't have said it any better.

Answer 2

If you are strictly done with public services, tell the school system and the teacher,,pull them into a meeting together, and explain your sons situation and then tell them how you feel and what outcomes you wish to see,

Answer 3

If you continue your son in the public school system you won't have much of a choice if he cannot keep up with the schoolwork. You can tell the preschool teacher, "I appreciate your concern, but my son is in private therapy for these issues." That's all you need to say.

Answer 4

Get her some written information on the kinds of therapies he is getting. Ask the therapists for things the teacher can be doing in the classroom to support the therapies. Maybe even ask the therapists to call her. If you engage her in the process she will have a better understanding and be less critical.

Answer 5

If your child is in public school, he will probably be put in the program that they feel he needs for his particular abilities. You have the right to continue the alternative therapy, but the school has a mandate to see that children in their care receive the specified help. You can't have it both ways--"imput" from the teacher but no programs. If you don't want the public school's interference, then you will have to take your child out. Otherwise, they will do what they have to do in order to help your child.

Answer 6

Politely tell her that your son is doing so well with private therapy that it might be detrimental to his well being if placed in a public school system.  He may not be ready but he isn't behind as much with all his progress so by changing at this time it may bring his speech and social skills back to a level he is more comfortable with instead of moving forward with his skills.  Parents only want to do what they think is best for their child/ren and sometimes I think teachers forget that.  Some teachers as also reminded on a regular basis that the school gets paid for each child atttending and therefore looses out when one child leaves.  I think their hearts are in the right place but they tend to think with their head first.

Answer 7

be cause that teacher is a liberal, By sending your child to a private facility, you've shown self reliance and individual thought . This is something that liberal, And government  schools despise.Good for your child, your son is better off attending a private facility. rather than a government funded facility.I hope that your son gets better soon.

Answer 8

I'm not a teacher but I don't see why it has to be one or the other. If you have private therapy that is working for your child,why wouldn't the school system embrace it and work WITH it?If everyone could learn to all work together, the children would benefit.

Right now,you can afford the private therapy but that may change.If your child qualifies for free public therapy,take it! (Once you give up a service,it is harder to get it back.)Unless you think the therapy the school is offering will "un do" what private therapy has done for your child, I would think he could only benefit from having both.Maybe the school's therapist will be more open-minded then the classroom teacher,and will be willing to  try work with what  you say is helping.

Answer 9

I think it's great that you are getting extra help for your son and that you care so much. So many of my student's parents just don't care so kudos to you on that. Now, don't take this the wrong way, but I'm not sure why you don't want any help from special education at the school. I know you feel that the alternative therapy is helpful and I'm sure it is wonderful but some more traditional methods could help to. Try them both would be my advice. You can always back out later.

Answer 10

You have the right to refuse special education services.  As long as your child continues to make forward progress under the care of your private provider, she has no grounds to dispute your choices.  

That being said, perhaps there would be value in meeting with the school's special ed provider, just to see what they can offer, if you haven not done so already. If you are still convinced that private care is better for your child, then maybe set up a meeting with the teacher and your private provider....

Good luck

Answer 11

if your son does not progress with private therapy the school system can and probley will have a case worker assigned to him that will say your denying your son his rights....the school system can take you to court and have a guardian assigned to make sure he gets all that is provided by public schools.  you can have the private therapy, but if you insist in staying in public education then you should also see their therapist.  just remember whatever you say to their therapist can be used against you in the future.  but, with a teacher up in arms right now i would rather visit their theripst then cps (child protective service).....  you may disagree but the school system can call  cps whenever they want to.   get a good lawyer too.  that handles in these cases.  once you know the law they do back off.