tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post3426259041566432777..comments2023-11-22T05:51:28.934+00:00Comments on Frank Chalk: Sit Still! (OK don't then.)Mr Chalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02300002644366743672noreply@blogger.comBlogger120125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-43326990579850781762009-12-06T00:26:34.107+00:002009-12-06T00:26:34.107+00:00Dear Frank.
So glad I found your blog. It is rea...Dear Frank.<br /><br />So glad I found your blog. It is reassuring to find proof that there are still some bigoted, ingnorant krinoids still out there.<br /><br />My son has autism. I need to protect him from anachronistic bullies like you. To do that I need proof that you "teachers" still have a toehold in some classrooms.<br /><br />So thank you for that. And don't worry, us parents will root all of you out...Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-42290807343916208862007-12-19T15:56:00.000+00:002007-12-19T15:56:00.000+00:00As a parent of a child newly diagnosed with Asperg...As a parent of a child newly diagnosed with Aspergers (after countless wrong diagnoses for the past 8 years) I am suddenly enlightened by reading these posts about why he is having difficulties in school. He has always been different and he has always been a genius. His IQ at 4 was genius level. So, does that mean, teachers on this blog who only want normalcy in the classroom --whatever that means, that you can't teach my child? He is polite. He never causes disruption in class because he holds it in for his daily 4 hour meltdowns at home after school. But his teacher says that blanket punishments are fine because all kids need to understand that their actions affect the others around them. Therefore, because he has children who are not diagnosed with anything, but are just naughty, causing problems in the classroom and my child, who has done his best to control himself, gets their punishment because of the cooperative nature of the classroom. I understand it is much easier to say that everyone needs to do the punishment than to single out the one or two kids who are causing the disturbances and just punish them. <BR/><BR/>But teachers, please consider what impact you have on my child, and others like him. Where he might be able to share with the world one day a scientific finding, or something else of great significance, you might be the person that changes everything for him. Be responsible. Think back to why you wanted to be a teacher. Did you have a teacher that you looked up to? I did. I had many that gave everything to reach even the unreachable kids. And we, the "normal" learned from their example to be accepting and to reach out and to help in our lives. They never dismissed kids to "special schools" but worked hard to mainstream them. Did you have a teacher that was horrible? I did. I can even remember what they wore and imitate how they talked. And my friends from 25 years ago will still say those teachers names with a snarl. Do you want to be remembered like that? Or are those breeds of teachers so oblivious and selfish that they don't care if they were a negative influence in a child's life? <BR/><BR/>I refuse to place him in an environment where he cannot learn with his regular peers. Part of Aspergers training is to learn social skills. How can he accomplish that in a special school in which none of his peers exhibits normal social skills? And he's highly intelligent. He looks normal. He is just frustrated by the system of the school where it is alright to punish everyone for the fault of a few. Frankly, I am as well. I think schools are becoming lazier and lazier and maybe the teachers need to drink some of those energy drinks and remember that they are with the kids during the majority of their days and thus have a very strong impact on them, whether they care or not. Don't complain about the "new generation" being lazy. You're the teacher. The kids are with you all day long. From where did they learn their habits?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-89443629828625347762007-09-19T14:11:00.000+00:002007-09-19T14:11:00.000+00:00While I think you're right on one hand - I think s...While I think you're right on one hand - I think sugary/additive filled drinks, lack of exercise, lack of discipline and manners taught at home and sitting in front of computer/TV screens lead to unruly behaviour in the classroom, at the same time those disorders that you dismissed as excuses DO exist. That said, they can be USED as excuses and eating healthy food, doing exercise etc can alliviate the symptoms in real sufferers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-51019153231251318532007-07-20T23:21:00.000+00:002007-07-20T23:21:00.000+00:00"cramerj said... The interesting point was where w..."cramerj said... <BR/>The interesting point was where was this behaviour (and all these ailments) in the 1950s We sat still and quiet. "<BR/><BR/>Actually these ailments did exist, in smaller numbers possibly... BUT they definitely were there. <BR/>As a boy in the 1940s-1950's my uncle would not sit still at a desk even if he wanted to. He would often jump out of windows, cause trouble at school etc.<BR/>No amount of corporal punishments or threats/encouragement helped and he left school at 15. He went into manual/physical type jobs to suit his inablitly to sit and concentrate. Even as an adult he ran about and had such an inability to sit still, that eventually his heart gave out during a health problem where he was supposed to rest. He had exact classic severe case of ADHD and Hyperactivity but this was before ADHD existed as a diagnosis (early 70s). So yes these people/conditions DID exist in those days. Corperal punishment won't make it go away. Please think about this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-367938462493636302007-07-15T17:24:00.000+00:002007-07-15T17:24:00.000+00:00Then I am afriad you are in the WRONG job or at th...Then I am afriad you are in the WRONG job or at the very least are teaching in the wrong centuary!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-87819787606314898972007-07-13T14:46:00.000+00:002007-07-13T14:46:00.000+00:00Just been reading through the comments on this pos...Just been reading through the comments on this post and can't help noticing the general difference between what the teachers and non teachers think.<BR/><BR/>Teachers are human and have different strengths and interests. As a French and German teacher I am perfectly able to teah these subjects to 'A' Level. I am also able to teach Spanish to GCSE Level, but would not be able to teach it to 'A' Level. (Nor am I interested in improving my grasp of the language sufficiently to enable me to do so.)<BR/><BR/>My main interest is in German and I try to manipulate my timetable to maximise my time teaching the top sets. Other teachers try to get a timetable which centres around their own preferences.<BR/><BR/>I don't have any interest in teaching Special Needs, nor do I feel that I should do, any more than a Special Needs Teacher might feel guilty that they cannot teach 'A' Level German.<BR/><BR/>So basically I don't want to teach every type of child thankyou very much and I don't think many teachers do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-59171565514930265522007-07-09T10:40:00.000+00:002007-07-09T10:40:00.000+00:00Paul I think you could do with standing outside yo...Paul I think you could do with standing outside yourself and having a good think because you have NO idea what "reality" is.<BR/><BR/>As for calling someone like Texas "a prick" for goodness sake????<BR/><BR/>I think so called teachers with your insane attitude are saying more about your own inadequacies and lack of faith in your own abilities than anything else.<BR/><BR/>If you are fit to be teaching children then you should be fit to teach all children, if you are not able to teach in the real world then quit!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-49654285030530434642007-07-08T21:38:00.000+00:002007-07-08T21:38:00.000+00:00Texas, you're a prick. Children sitting in neat li...Texas, you're a prick. Children sitting in neat little rows listening to me is exactly what I'd expect. I am a teacher not a social worker. I have little interest in any of these modern excuses for poor behaviour.<BR/><BR/>I was employed to teach maths and that is what I do. Anyone who can't sit quietly and listen can go and stand outside as far as I'm concerned. This may not sound very 'modern' or PC but it is reality. I won't compromise 25 good kids for the sake of three bad ones.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-54157765220461839112007-07-08T18:05:00.000+00:002007-07-08T18:05:00.000+00:00Texas, I have to thank you for you brilliant and h...Texas, I have to thank you for you brilliant and honest attitude.<BR/>I would have loved my son to have been taught by someone as compassionate and clearly devoted as you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-29752760346305979212007-07-06T17:01:00.000+00:002007-07-06T17:01:00.000+00:00I think many of you would like to teach in what yo...I think many of you would like to teach in what you might consider a "perfect" environment... good, smart, well-behaved students who sit in your neat little rows for an hour or two listening to you drone on about your subject.<BR/><BR/>The reality of teaching is that each student is a person who has his and her own quirks and may have learning disabilities or some other label that has been given to them by a specialist in that field. We don't like people to tell us how to teach, because that is our specialty. What gives us the audacity to question another specialist's diagnosis in a student? Do I know more about ADHD than the psychiatrist who diagnosed it? Do I know more about dysgraphia than the specialist who diagnosed it? Of course not! Yet teachers all over the world try to practice medicine and psychology every day by stating that "little Johnny" doesn't have anything wrong with him that a spanking wouldn't cure.<BR/><BR/>I think it is extremely arrogant to sipmly state that a doctor's diagnosis is wrong. True, some children misbehave because their parents haven't taught them to behave. Students with diagnosed disabilities, however, are different. Because of their disability, sitting still or learning to read or learning their multiplication facts becomes an extremely difficult task. Learning is hard for these students and they often must work much harder than "normal" students to achieve the same results. With a caring teacher who has learned the most effective teaching methods, however, these students can learn as well, and sometimes better, than students considered "normal".<BR/><BR/>If you have a large number of students in any class who are misbehaving, you should look at how you are teaching and what assignments you give. Are your lessons interesting? Do they involve the student? Do they allow students to think creatively and critically? Are your expectations too low? Are they too high? Do you have a dull monotone voice that puts people to sleep?<BR/><BR/>Just because you are an experienced teacher doesn't mean your teaching can't improve. All of us should strive to improve our teaching every day. Teaching methods that work for learning disabled students and students with ADHD improve the learning of ALL students.<BR/><BR/>The biggest problem is that too many educators are far too arrogant and inflexible to even consider changing something about their teaching. I challenge each of you to learn more about at least one disability. Research it thoroughly and use that knowledge to help you become a better teacher.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-81747404524476453232007-06-28T18:08:00.000+00:002007-06-28T18:08:00.000+00:00Susan, I find myself agreeing with your concise po...Susan, I find myself agreeing with your concise post, except i differ when it comes to "shut-up-and-sit-down" - if applied rigorously i should imagine its a fairly positive gender neutral policy? After all, girls are programmed to talk about things just as boys are to jump around, both of which can easily distract from learning a specified subject.ba bahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14178542110930629126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-68907340755556829992007-06-28T17:52:00.000+00:002007-06-28T17:52:00.000+00:00Brain research shows that passive learning does no...Brain research shows that passive learning does not stick. The other thing is that the whold sit-quietly-shut-up mentality favors girls over boys. Boys need to move more and are naturally more kinetic than girls. Their rambunctousness has been pathologized to such an extent that too many normally active boys are on medications to calm them down. It does make the case for gender based education. Schools are dominated by a feminine culture which is less active and more passive...not good places for boys really.Susan Ariewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04890935588946942651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-66729752598195263492007-06-28T15:33:00.000+00:002007-06-28T15:33:00.000+00:00Hello Helen,That's exactly what I did at home!I wo...Hello Helen,<BR/><BR/>That's exactly what I did at home!<BR/><BR/>I would on quite a few occasions go into melt-down! and in my teenage years once demolished my whole bedroom! Outside pressure is enormous for an Aspie.<BR/><BR/>I'm glad you have found your son a good school. The only reasonable, ok schools that I would consider are private, grammar and just holding on by their fingertips are the religious Catholic and C of E.<BR/><BR/>Normal state schools are purely for social engineering for the liberal elite! Which in a weired way, over many years, has made this country (especially that silly little man who signed the EU Treaty, signing Briton away to Brussels) a communist state. In years to come Europe will be the new super-state like Russia, many years ago.<BR/><BR/>All this equality rubbish is precisely why no-one has control over the kids anymore!<BR/><BR/>If I was facing an operation in hospital! NO WAY, would I want to be equal to my surgeon! I would expect him to be miles more clever and more sophisticated if he or she's going to take my life into their hands!!!<BR/><BR/>Since the late fifties and sixties this country has deteriorated in more ways than one! And we and the kids in it!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-78800654082530057172007-06-28T14:50:00.000+00:002007-06-28T14:50:00.000+00:00Lol, your forgiven.Lol, your forgiven.ba bahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14178542110930629126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-80531459955494770482007-06-28T07:05:00.000+00:002007-06-28T07:05:00.000+00:00Lol sorry not sure what happenend at start of that...Lol sorry not sure what happenend at start of that postAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-85764273525555082452007-06-28T07:03:00.000+00:002007-06-28T07:03:00.000+00:00lflmloHmm would be torture for the children who do...lflmloHmm would be torture for the children who do have the conditions though, as school can be when you have a clueless dinosaur teaching a class as seems the case too often.<BR/><BR/>Also another aspect of conditions such as Aspergers is trhey do not show their frustration/distress where they do not feel able to and often only release it at home with meltdowns.<BR/>So just because a child might appear ok in school does not mean that is what is really going on inside them.<BR/><BR/>Another important point is that NOT ALL children with these conditions are disruptive, many are the exact opposite as my son is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-63488805142201663372007-06-27T20:15:00.000+00:002007-06-27T20:15:00.000+00:00Simple test:Stick a class full of kids with listed...Simple test:<BR/><BR/>Stick a class full of kids with listed disorders in with a well-respected disciplinarian teacher who has the authority to make their life hell if they step out of line (if you can find one. So we're talking a strong, experienced head.<BR/><BR/>If the kid exhibits their stated disorder, it is genuine. Fair play - there are loads of kids with genuine disorders. If they miraculously work perfectly to avoid the sanctions and/or a bollocking from someone who can cause them grief, you know things are being overstated a tad.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-27177323929279623272007-06-27T06:58:00.000+00:002007-06-27T06:58:00.000+00:00I did home educate my aspie son for a time as we w...I did home educate my aspie son for a time as we were in the fight for a statement after he had an awful time at primary school with teachers with absolutely no understanding (or willingness to understand in many cases) anything about autism.<BR/><BR/>He was also the one who sat quiet, never complaining (in school anyway) and because of this the teachers were constantly telling us there was nothing wrong, but they never saw his meltdowns as he left the playground everyday.<BR/><BR/>When we did get him statemented last year he was then offered a place at an excellent mainstream secondary school with a great rep fpr their special needs provision. (The head of the SEN department has a son who sees the same specialist my son does which was also reassuring)<BR/><BR/>My son is much happier and is actually enjoying school now, but I would definately have continued home educating if this school had not been as good as it is and am ready to remove him and teach him myself again if that is needed again someday.<BR/><BR/>His intelligence has often worked against him when trying to make teachers understand his difficulties, he also often feels he understands something when infact he has got it a bit wrong (Maybe different as he is still a child of 12 and not an adult aspie.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-62054642906242749772007-06-26T20:09:00.000+00:002007-06-26T20:09:00.000+00:00Hello all you fellow aspergics! I'm the six month ...Hello all you fellow aspergics! I'm the six month pregnant partner of British National Party Member! And, wait for it...I'm also discalculiar, peculiar ever so slightly aspergic, from a long generation of ASD and aspergics family!<BR/><BR/>Being a female aspergic, when I was at school I was completely the opposite of disruptive. I was the silent loner who sat at the back completely by so-called teachers forgotten and ignored! The only ones noticing, of course, the disruptive ones that made my school life a misery.<BR/><BR/>Most 'normal' peoples knowledge of aspergics is that they cannot understand peoples body language or social situations, meaning poor aspergics can't possibly understand!<BR/><BR/>My own personal experience, which has been identical to my partners, is that we both have high IQ's, can only TOO well understand other peoples view points and know TOO much about most things! And that can be a disability in itself, making us highly sensitive to everybody and thing that is going on around us.<BR/><BR/>I most certainly WILL NOT be sending our little treasure to school, that would be child-abuse! He will be home-schooled and just incase you think I'm living in cloud cuckoo land, looking through rose-tinted spectacles. I also have an eighteen year old son and I feel terribly guilty of putting him through the child-abusing system of school!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-16841759054863604472007-06-26T19:59:00.000+00:002007-06-26T19:59:00.000+00:00Anon It is a fact that part of AS is difficulty in...Anon It is a fact that part of AS is difficulty in having empathy or understnding of people's feelings and behaviour.<BR/>Believe me I spend so long every single day trying to help my aspie son to understand such things.<BR/>I was trying to let BNP know I do have some understanding.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-84375858855713776842007-06-26T19:42:00.000+00:002007-06-26T19:42:00.000+00:00Hi well firstly you need a dictionary as it is spe...Hi well firstly you need a dictionary as it is spelt Asperger syndrome! as a parent to a child with the condition aswell as ADHD I think I have the knowledge to know it is real, how dare you sit there and say it isn't true! I have always known he was 'different' ever since I was pregnanct with him. I had to fight to get a diagnosis, it isn't something that is made half heartedly, he was assessed in many situations including school, home and at the centre where he was diagnosed. And I want to point out it isn't just behaviour that is all about this condition there are some nice things about it too. he is very clever and can work out the computer and alsorts of tehnology before I could and he is only about to turn 7 and he can't even read or write! He loves museums and history too. he hates the school he is in as he can't cope with crowds, smells and lighting (they can hurt them physically) he is now in a room on his own with not much interaction with other kids, thank fully he is going to a special needs school soon. We/he have gone through hell! and he doesn't have fizzy drinks all day long either!!!! oh and yes Autism (aspergers is a form of autism) has been around forever. My grandad was an aspie and he was born in 1921!! he was a brilliant musician. and please don't use the word normal etc my child is not abnormal but probably more intelligent than you!!! and it is people like you that make the condition a disability. also did you know how much A.S can affect the whole family/siblings!!!<BR/><BR/>anyway I suppose I am only hitting my head against a brick wall as there will always be ignorant people like you in this world!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-50876897148795714552007-06-26T19:09:00.000+00:002007-06-26T19:09:00.000+00:00helen (16.25)This is what you said:"Helen said... ...helen (16.25)<BR/><BR/>This is what you said:<BR/><BR/>"Helen said... <BR/>BNP member.<BR/>As you have Aspergers I realise you cannot fuly understand how people here feel or why people are reacting as they are."<BR/><BR/>I'll accept that you didn't mean it how it sounded, but that's not MY misunderstanding, and as it stands it IS a sweeping generalisation (and hugely negative one) about people on the autistic spectrum.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-36614274482077615042007-06-26T18:49:00.000+00:002007-06-26T18:49:00.000+00:00It is frightening to think that what is supposed t...It is frightening to think that what is supposed to be a profession contains such ignorant people. My son has Aspergers, Adhd and Dyspraxia. They are very real conditions. He is very intelligent and I dare say has an Iq higher than most of those who post such ignorant comments. He is a caring boy who sees past others disabilities. He works hard every day to overcome his difficulties which I find humbling as apart from the social side of school I sailed through. We had to fight hard to get him placed in an appropriate school where thankfully the teachers understand and appreciate his quirky intelligence. My daughter is also Aspergers. She is a beautiful kind intelligent child. I hate the thought that some of her teachers might view her as some have suggested. I am also Aspergers and I'm a professional in the city. Unemployable think not. My husband is also probably Aspergers and also a professional. The conditions are in reality underdiagnosed. In our area it can take three years on a waiting list for a child to be seen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-12865759821806474822007-06-26T16:25:00.000+00:002007-06-26T16:25:00.000+00:00Anon you clearly misunderstood what I was saying, ...Anon you clearly misunderstood what I was saying, I would NEVER be like that becasuse I have a son with Aspergers so I DO understnd it a damn sight better than Mr Chalk!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28919367.post-24430351890185522092007-06-26T16:07:00.000+00:002007-06-26T16:07:00.000+00:00Helen (11.08) - I really can't believe you said th...Helen (11.08) - <BR/><BR/>I really can't believe you said that! BNP member, as a person with Aspergers commenting ON Aspergers has no right to an opinion because his Aspergers means he cannot understand fully the nature of what is being discussed???<BR/>You and Mr Chalk would get on well together - both masters 9excuse the pun!) of the sweeping generalisation!<BR/>:0Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com