A crisis of faith

**PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING DISCLAIMER BEFORE PROCEEDING TO THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS**

Almost 3 weeks ago I sent a letter to the special education God.

She still hasn't replied. That first week was our second week of summer so I thought maybe it was her sabbatical. I didn't feel the need to pressure her. That second week was the first days of summer school. I thought surely she'd be back in her office and a response was eminent. This was the third week. My faith is diminishing. It is time to gather my flock for our journey of enlightenment.

I talked to our summer school teacher. She is a 17 year special education veteran who is now teaching general education class of 1st graders. (If you are perplexed why JP's teacher is a 1st grade teacher you can read my Decisions and more decisions chapter of our saga.) Unfortunately, I must admit I feel like I do not currently have a handle on what JP's level of participation is in this classroom. I haven't asked to observe the class. Perhaps I should. However, his teacher did say that the classroom aid (they were assigned for JP) is pretty much by his side most of the time. This aid is only there for the 1 1/2 hours of the 2 1/2 hour summer school schedule. However, I believe that the school itself is funding her to be there the extra our. I also have to factor in that these are incoming first graders and the material is likely pretty foreign to JP. Yes, he is academically advance for an incoming kindergartener. Yes, he knows his numbers, letters, is reading a few words. But the long A sound. Nope, he isn't there yet. He is keeping up but he is not doing so without adult assistance.

Anyway, I am getting off on a tangent. I told his summer school teacher that I was looking for information on how JP is succeeding (or not) in the classroom. I needed to know so I would know what to say in our discussion with God about a aide for next year. Her response was, "I'll probably take some heat for this but I did send an email to the principal and tell her that he needs a full time aid in the classroom." Thank you! It appears we have another believer in our midst.

So if you are keeping score with us...we are now at 13 to 1. At IEP time it was 10-1 but we now have the 1st grade summer school teacher (our future 1st grade teacher), a resource teacher who is partnering in our summer school class and the para who is assigned specific to JP for a part of his day. Still that 1 is a pretty powerful force.

I commented that I would be following up with God since I hadn't received a response. The teacher did tell me that God visited the classroom during the first day of summer school. (Hee! Hee! Who says God isn't allowed in our children's schools!) So I know that we are on her radar. Nevertheless I have not heard from her. It is time for me to up it a notch. I need a response and they now have their own live data from JP in their classroom.

Perhaps she is confused by my analogy. I am not in prayer here. This is a two way discussion. She may control the funding for the school district but she still has to adhere to the 11 commandments. Did you know there was an 11th Commandment? Free and Appropriate Education!