Click graphic for Hope Elementary School info!
Hope Elementary School, Hope Indiana
Connie Miller, Principal
Click graphic for Hauser High School info!
Hauser High School, Hope Indiana
Kimberly Harsh, Principal Dave Irvine, aka Mr. Personality
| Welcome to Hope, Indiana "A Surprising Little Town" |
MUST READ for parents of children diagnosed with AD/AD!!!!! Aug 2000 Transcript of Dr. Russell Barkley lecture!!!
1. If a teacher is tardy for school, is he/she required to stop by the office for a pass?
2. Is the staff evaluated on the basis of how effective they are lying to and misleading parents?
3. Why would a school district hire a fat guy and pay him $60,000+/yr just to stand and watch the grass grow at the baseball diamond?
4. If an administrator lies about facts at a Due Process Hearing, does he really receive a wage increase?
5. When a parent requests a review of all of their childs school records, why does the school always remove the "bad stuff" prior to the review?
6. If a school employee fails to keep their word to a parent or student, why don't they receive a detention for failure to complete an assignment?
7. Isn't it amazing how many halfwits can be packed into a school conference room?
8. Why do parents punish their children for lack of 'making the grade' when they should be punishing public schools?
9. Ever wonder why Kim Harsh is single and childless yet is in charge of children?
10. And lastly... Why is it, that most of the really 'good' teachers, go on to work in other more rewarding fields of work?
Q: What is the difference between God and a lawyer?
A: God doesn't think he's a lawyer.
This web-site is dedicated to children suffering from ADHD
(Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and/or ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder), as well as other disabled children .....and
their parents. If you, or someone you know has a special needs child, a child who is opinionated, or a child who thinks differently, please DO NOT re-locate anywhere near Hope, Indiana. If you know of a child who always complys, who is quiet and never asks questions and who always agrees with adults, then Hope is the place for them.
It is my goal that this web-site will awaken, encourage and empower parents and brave teachers to
advocate successfully for a proper education for the children who so desperately need it. The
information contained within this web-site is here to help the parent and/or teacher of ANY disabled child in ANY
school, to provide the best outcomes for their children/students. In more than a few cases, it
boils down to politics at the local level. Strong-armed administrators don't mind over-spending taxpayer dollars to push their damaging policies. School districts have very deep pockets in which to fight change within their walls yet, have little to provide needed services for disabled children within the district. Struggling school districts find monies to do everything from staying at posh hotels while attending conferences, installing state-of-the-art communication systems for staff use, artwork, high dollar office furniture and only the best carpet to hiring 'high dollar' lawyers to fight parents who are advocating for their children.
I amassed this information as a result of many months of research, brought on by the refusal of
our local professional educators to provide an environment for my child to receive an appropriate education. Instead, they
elect to ignore his disability and insist that he is just a 'bad kid' who could do better if he
chose to. It seems to be more economical for the district to suspend, expel or 'detain' students rather than to educate them. My experiences with the local public school district and its "educated" staff have been quite revealing....... A common phrase that I have heard more than I care to remember from my son's
educators is, "He's going to have to learn not to ________________(fill in the blank). I'm
wondering when they are going to start doing their jobs (i.e. teaching) so it is not
left up to student to learn on his/her own. The harsh reality is: Teachers do what the administration tells them to do or, they find another line of work. Although most
teachers claim that they DO strive to get the best out of each student, few claims are genuine. Some fear retaliation from the district if they give the child what is needed... Many are led to believe that the district policy is the ONLY policy. Sadly, the handful of teachers who do advocate for children are soon advanced to the real world of being a non-teacher.
While there are a few educators who strive to deliver the needed services that benefit our
children, (I have yet to meet a current teacher who has sided with a parent in a school conference, Due Process Hearing or in court)... the vast majority of regular education teachers (and many Special Education teachers
that I know of) have no idea of how to successfully educate special needs children. ===Children with ADHD in particular.=== "It would
take too much time"...."It wouldn't be fair to the rest of the class"..."I have 28 other students who WANT to learn in my class" are a few of the many things that I have heard from local teachers and administrators when it comes to providing a Free and
Appropriate Public Education for my child. Many teachers are teachers simply because they do not have the skills to be anything else!! Let's face it, a degree in education is probably the easiest college degree out there. Yet, teachers have very little chance of advancing in their chosen fields and they could earn much more in several other professions...What the teaching profession DOES enjoy is a clean working environment, most of the Summer home from work and a false sense of knowledge and power over the parents of their students.
In Indiana, for example, ANY parent can do the same job that our public school teachers are expected to do (only without being paid by tax dollars) and do it quite well, although many times, it creates hardships in the family setting that will not allow it to happen. It doesn't take a college degree to educate a child. It takes a big book called "Teachers Edition", a little common sense, and the ability to listen...Yes LISTEN!! .....Teachers at Public Schools sometimes hide behind their college degrees, leading parents to believe that they are informed and knowledgeable about educating special needs children. Many times, teachers actually think that they are informed about a particular disability or trait. After all, they attended the 3 hour inservice on the subject so they know alllll there is to know, right?? Most use their college educations very little in their jobs. They find excuses...LOTS of excuses..ALWAYS an excuse... Everything from class size to school budget for their lack of knowledge and personal interest in their students. And they don't often take kindly to a parent who tries to 'gently educate' them either!!!
It is our duty as parents to educate ourselves, become involved with our children's education,
learn all we can about the laws that affect 'special needs' children and how they are followed or even known about in
our public schools. We as parents must become pro-active and demand that the people
we send our children to each day, (and pay) be qualified to educate and give each child what he or she
needs to be successful. There is no college course to really prepare prospective
teachers for the reality of the classroom. We, as parents of children suffering with the constant
struggle of ADHD and/or ODD, must NEVER assume that a school teacher or administrator will
look out for our child's welfare and best interests. From my dealings, this couldn't be further from the truth.
Are you the parent of a child with a disability, including ADD ADHD or maybe ODD? Do you know any children who are affected by either of these disorders? Has a teacher or principal or counselor ever made you feel as if you were the cause of your child's problems because of poor parenting? Have you ever heard the phrase, "You want WHAT?" Have the teachers told you that your child is doing fine and progressing and wonder why you're not aware of any progress?...YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
The notion that school personnel are more familiar with a child than the parent
is.... is ludicrous! Here in the quiet, conservative, surprising
town of Hope, children spend 6-1/2 hours per day (out of 24), 181 days per year (out of 365) in school...... Who is the expert here???
To give you an idea of what it's like to attend public school today; please brace
yourself and look through the eyes of special needs students to get a glimpse of
what they face each and every day of their school year......... CLICK HERE...... It may even fit the description of a teacher or principal that YOUR child has tried to tell you about!!
PLEASE leave a comment or tell your story by clicking here ->
so I'll know that you have been here. If you're a teacher and are in fear of losing your job as a result of signing,, just use an alias. If you are a parent or student from the Hope, Indiana area, please post your concerns and gripes too! Remember this is not a message board and I do not respond to the comments. It is simply a guestbook.
Bookmark this page as I will be adding information and links to it regularly. Remember,
