Close Topic Options

Home Study Or Special School

Home Study or Special School

What do you do as far as educating your special needs child (ADHD / ADD), do you opt for Home Study or Special School? For us, we used to send him to a normal school that was good, but since then we have travelled so much that it is no longer an option. We have decided to educate him home until better can be done.

School Special Study Home

I deeply believe homeschooling is great for all types of children but for children with ADD or ADHD it may become a necessity when proper schools with trained teachers are not available and when the parents feel their child is not being treated fairly because of their problem (they are send to the nutty corner, feelings of rejection, problems of adaptation, etc). It is because children with ADHD suffer of a very low self-esteem it is so important to create an environment of positive reinforcement, love and encouragment. What a better place than home!

Those parents or friends who may be concerned about the socializing part need to remember that extra-curricular activities such as playing sports or martial arts will help develop that social aspect of the child. I am all for homeschooling children with or without special needs.

Home Study Or Special School Health & Special Psychology

I think this one depends on the area that you live, and what schools and choices are available to you.
I feel that a child in a school that doesn't understand the needs of the child or the disorder itself, can be very harmful for the child.Some of these schools that have no understanding, end up labelling the child as 'naughty', when this definitely isn't the case.

On the other hand, if you are fortunate enough to live near a special school that has full facilities, and a full understanding, then I don't feel you will go too far wrong with your child attending this school.

I believe that a parent knows what is best for their own child, and shouldn't be pushed one way or another, it should be their decision, as to what type of schooling their child receives.

I have been fortunate enough to have worked at a fantastic school like this years ago, and the children were so happy! It really does make a difference if your child feels happy, safe and secure.This can be achieved in either environment, so I don't make judgement on this one!

School Special Study Home

This is the problem I am facing with the schools in Trinidad. There are a couple of schools called as "special education" but the teachers are not trained (they are not even trained to be a "teacher" none of them have a degree or have any experience in psychology). If I am paying a private "special" education school then I expect to get what I am paying for. Here the system is very harsh towards children in general (they still beating children even though is illegal, name-calling, etc). Can you imagine how they deal with children with ADHD?

School Special Study Home

LDS, that's terrible! I feel for you!
It's hard to believe in this day and age that people who are in a trusted 'position' can still be allowed to treat children so badly.
Name calling alone, can cause low self esteem, without somebody being physically violent towards them!
Did I read in another thread somewhere that you are now home schooling?
If you are, I think I would be doing the same if I were in your position!
I have a few friends who home teach, they are all Christians, and believe that their children become more confident being taught at home, because even if the school system lets them down, they have the love of the parent at home. I have seen that home schooling, is very hard work, but it does seem to be rewarding, and paying off for the fact that the children are learning in a safer atmosphere!

Home Study Or Special School

I just started homeschooling Felipe. I am new on this so I try to get as much as information as I can on the internet. My son besides having ADHD suffers of a mild mental development and still extremely innocent in every aspect of the word and very sensitive. I was not willing to put him through the system and allow the system to crash him (because that's exactly what happen with children here). It is not an easy decision but his physical and mental integrity is far more important than my "peace" at home for some hours.

Offtopic but, I work in a private secondary school where I often see teachers and principal giving 6 or more strokes to children who behave badly and who are clearly being abused at home. All these kids are problematic children who have been physical, mentally and sexually abused at home, yet they get as many strokes for bad behavior. Trinidadians in general within the school system and out the system do not believe in all the psychology and stuff we often discussed about here on the forum. If a child misbehaves then it is because "he/she is not trained" or "he/she is spoilt" "and needs a good lash". MOST Trinidadians are all for getting back physical punishment at schools. Unbelievable and primitive as it sounds, I deal with it on a daily basis but in no way I am going to put my 5 years old through that hell

Home Study Special School

Hi LDS, after reading what you say about the culture/traditions of Trinidad, without a doubt you are doing the right thing!
I don't believe that children 'flourish' with corporal punishment and being abused verbally certainly doesn't help. Until the Government of Trinidad starts to take notice, and starts to change the tradition, unfortunately people will just continue to mistreat these children.
It will remain a 'vicious circle' that remains hard to break the cycle.

You can't even compare an education in schools run like this to a child being home schooled at home in a calm safe environment.

Corporal punishment was ruled out over here years ago, I remember when I was at school being frightened of saying the wrong thing, because the headmaster would either hit you with a large wooden ruler, or have your mouth washed out with soap and water.

This of course doesn't happen here any more, and I suppose that you take it for granted that it doesn't happen anywhere else either. Obviously this isn't the case, as you have pointed out, hopefully one day, trinidad as a country will make this behavior obselete too, but it's going to take everybody wanting to make a change, before anyone in authority takes it seriously.

It makes you really humble, when you take so much for granted, and you realize that everybody else isn't afforded the same treatment.

Home Study Special School Psychology Special & Health

We have decided that based on our current circumstances that Home Schooling for our children - special needs or not is the way to go. It puts more pressure on u to have enrichment for them each day, but I believe it is worth it as compared to what I see as the 'available' options that this country offers. I really hope that we can change our physical location to one where they can meet 'normal' children who can talk and play without behaving like monkeys.