Wednesday, May 11, 2011

NUT Report: No parent involvement wanted

Gretchen Herrera, a parent of a child with Asperger's Syndrome and Type 1 diabetes asked to opt out of testing on medical grounds. Her requests were received with threats, resistance, and ultimately denied. The professional opinions from his medical team were ignored. Her son liked the virtual charter school and took the first round of tests, not wanting to "disappoint" anyone.

Mom checked his blood sugar level after the test and it was sky high, just as the lead of his medical team indicated the testing would affect blood sugar levels. In a posting on Facebook, Herrera says that she will not infict the rest of the tests on her son.

Why must I be forced to do what my doctors, my son, and I know will harm him? I want my son to have access to the joyful, useful, relevant, real, and interesting learning experience that our tax dollars pay for? I’d happily take my tax dollars elsewhere, but unfortunately, our compulsory system of compliance doesn’t afford parents such options. I am forced to subject my son to that which will make him physically and emotionally ill if he is to get the education he he deserves. The system has failed and my child is being left behind.


Read the full story here.

UPDATE: Read the medical recommendation here.

NUT = No Unnecessary Tests

2 comments:

  1. Sandra says: Moved by details of Gretchen Herrera request to opt out, I wrote the blog. As long as we remain testing obsessed, children are potential casualties. Parent involvement is demanded, and narrowly controlled. Local control and decision-making, which puts the children first is vastly diminished. There are too many of these stories emerging. I stand with the parents.

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  2. Think we know someone this will interest..

    ReplyDelete