There is more to the question about my nephew being accused of not writing his paper?

Question

My nephew has an IEP and attends a period of resource room help. Even the resource room teacher helped him write the essay. When he handed the essay in, the regular (not Special Ed) teacher said my nephew was not capable of writing such an essay. Does this sound like discrimination of a special education student? My nephew had a week to work on this essay. He wrote the rough draft, had the special ed teacher help him, and his mom helped also. His mother has all the rough drafts with each teacher's comments. We do not know why the English teacher does not accept the paper.

Answer 1

Yes and I would report the teacher to the principal. I also have a 10 year old and he get extra help through resource and I know 1st hand the difference that class can make.

Answer 2

Mmm my daughter who is dyslexic, and also has ODD & ADHD had a similar problem, with one of her assignments.

The teacher who is saying that your nephew is not capable of writing such a essay, his regular teacher (one they see every day), or are they a fill in teacher?

Either way I suggest you give the teacher the hand written notes, and another copy of the essay, and tell them to compare the work. If they refuse to accept the work as being your nephews, then ask to speak to the headmaster and his aide, to discuss this matter further.

Teachers should always compare hand written notes, to the finished work, and they most certainly should not make assumptions about a students ability, especially if the essay or assignment is a topic of the students choice.

My daughter had given her teacher, her hand written assignment, along with her typed assignment, when the teacher read the hand written work they realized the work was indeed hers.

The teacher later admitted to me, that their assumptions were very incorrect (they thought I had done the assignment), and was pleased to see my daughter proven them wrong,  and the teacher also said to me, they were stunned to hear my daughter give a very detailed speech about the assignment, as was the rest of the class, my daughter did not refer to her notes once, during her speech, but many of her fellow students had too. My daughter got a A++, which gave her the confidence to do other assignments, because she knew she could do it.

I hope this situation can be sorted, as the poor boy will feel a little disheartened, at having his work questioned, and may very well make him not bother next time.

Answer 3

Not all teachers are well educated about students with learning disabilities. Some still believe that all special ed students are less bright than everyone else. The special education teacher should be sticking up for him if your nephew did write the paper.  I would be tempted to ask the regular ed teacher how he or she knows what your nephew is capable of writing. Who does this teacher think did write the paper, and why does he/she think that?  If your nephew got too much "help" from the special ed teacher and his mother, that will not be good for him in the long run. I have taught special ed for 29 years and students who get too much help don't become as confident and competent as they should.  However, if your nephew is being underestimated simply because the other teacher has misconceptions, then the special ed department should be working with that teacher to make sure students are all treated fairly ("Fair does not mean equal; fair means each student gets what he or she needs to be successful." Richard LaVoie.)  It is said that in this day and age, this kind of prejudice does still exist.

Answer 4

It sounds like the english teacher thinks that it was written only by the special ed teacher and your nephew's mother. They helped which does not mean they wrote it.

Get the special ed teacher to write a note to the english teacher about the extent of the help he/she provided. If it is documented how much help was given I don't see that the teacher has a way out, unless they think the essay has been plagerised or copied from another person's work.

Answer 5

You should have a talk with the teacher in question. If however, the teacher is a relief teacher, then speak to the higher up/supervisor or head of department. You should then be able to clarify the questions you have.