There was an issue with a teacher again, this time it's regarding our son volunteering to bring in something for a school function.  I'll copy the email I sent to the Assistant Principal so you can understand..


"Hello Mr. Watkins, this is Matthew's mother Diana.  I'm writing in regard to an issue with Matthew in school.  As per our 504, we need to have written instructions for him sometimes because he has a problem remembering things.  One instance of this is any school-related parties or activities that require kids to sign up for bringing something in.  I got a slip of paper yesterday with the words "Matthew 30 cups" written on it.  When I asked about this, he told me this was for school.  He couldn’t tell me exactly what it was for, but he did say he needed it Thursday.  Now, I have a blue sheet of paper here from the school about the Read A Thon for the PTO.  I assumed he was talking about that.  When I talked to him about it this morning, he said he needed the cups tomorrow.  When I said that the Read A Thon wasn't until next week, he said he'd signed up for cups and needed them tomorrow.  I asked him where the slip of paper came from, and he said Mrs. White.  I emailed her this morning and said this..

"Could you explain to me what this is about, the 30 cups thing.  I have a note he said he got from you.  When do these cups need to be in school?  I got the note about next week's PTO Read A Thon, is this what it's for?  He told me the cups had to be in tomorrow, is this right?  I'll need to know about this."


This was Mrs. White's response...

"WE are having a reward activity tomorrow and students are bringing in refeshments.  On Friday, Matthew volunteered to bring in the cups.  If this is a problem, let me know and I will make other arrangements."


I emailed back to her saying...

"This isn't a problem, the only problem is that I wasn't told about this ahead of time.  I have no problem with sending anything in to school for an activity, or buying anything for it, but I need to have written notice, or to have someone call me.  I just found out about this yesterday, and Matthew couldn't tell me why he needed these.  This is why we discussed written instructions for anything involved with Matthew's schoolwork.  What else can I bring besides the cups?  Is there anything on your list that hasn't been taken  care of?  If you find you are missing anything tomorrow, I can always get it and drive it in myself."


Her response was this...

"Just send them in with Matthew"


Needless to say,  I am a bit angry.  Maybe we haven't communicated well enough that anything that involves Matthew and something he's expected to remember should be put in written form, especially if it means that I need to purchase something to send in with him to school.  You can ask Mrs. Bartley from his old elementary school how much we've enjoyed bringing and making things to take into various school functions for the kids.  I have no problem getting anything for the school, as long as I’m made aware of it with a few day's notice.  Whether Matthew volunteers to DO something in the school, or to bring something to the school, we need to have written notification on this. With Matthew's CAPD, he sometimes doesn't fully understand things like this. I would appreciate you talking to Mrs. White about this, and somehow making her understand that while we encourage Matthew to volunteer for things, we need to be notified of them.  Her comment of "if this is a problem, let me know and I will make other arrangements" bothers me.  I at no time told her I wasn't willing to bring these cups in.  I will buy the cups today, and I can send them in with him tomorrow.  I actually offered to bring in anything else that was needed.  Please address this situation.  I am making sure my husband gets a copy of this email, and I have copies of every email that comes from the school for future reference.  Thank you."

Why is it there's always someone that just can't understand the facts?




Diana