The bus and pot...oh joy...

[kittynh]

Today my daughter had her first day at the local public high school. The first day you drive your kid. Second day the bus starts. The fun is that her "friends" that already attend high school have warned her NOT to sit in the back of the bus as that is where the kids smoke pot. Huh?

So I call up her guidance counselor, who admits to me, yes, some kids ("only 1% I'm sure") do smoke pot in the back of the bus. But, if my daughter sits up front she will be fine. When I question why pot smoking is tolerated on a school bus she explains that the school isn't in charge of the school buses. That the towns that send their children to the high school hire the buses and THEY are in charge of what happens on the buses. The town we live in says that there is only one bus company that is privately owned and they are in charge of what happens on the bus. The bus company says they are in charge of transporting children, not baby sitting and the kids can do what they want.

Huh?

My neighbors are totally cool with this. After all, it's just a "few" kids. I asked 3 of them what else would be ok. Cigarette smoking? (no, that's dangerous, second hand smoke) Drinking?
(no, that's a bad example, after all ALL kids can find alcohol at home).

I'm not against pot, but I am against my daughter being scared to ride the bus as she doesn't want to sit near pot smokers. She just isn't comfortable with it. Heck, she hated to sit near the smokers in Europe.

I guess teaching at a private school, and this my first steps in a public high school world with my child, I'm "over reacting". But on the other hand, this just seems kind of sad.

Am I totally behind the times? And oddly enough I'm left without anyone or anyplace to complain about this to. No one cares and everyone thinks I'm nuts.

[Boo]

kitty,

You are right to be totally outraged, I would be as well if this was happening on a school bus my daughter was riding on.

I will be honest and say that my political beliefs on the issue of pot not withstanding it is still an illegal substance and its use should not be tolerated by minor children, especially on a vehicle transpoting them to and from school.

Next stop should be the district office. Somebody is supposed to be responsible for the children from the time they get on the bus until they are dropped off in the afternoon. I can't imagine that the excuse 'we just transport, not babysit' would be valid should someone become injured. If the district office passes the buck go to the next school board meeting and ask who is repsonsible for the safety and welfare of the kids while they are on the bus. Given that most board meetings are covered by local papers, mentioning open use of marijuana should get a response and an answer.


I will be interested to hear what happens.



Boo

[luchog]

No, I don't think you're at all in the wrong to be upset about it.

I'm pro-cannabis, and have lent my efforts to the legalization movement; but still think this is a very bad idea. Cannabis use, like alcohol, should be heavily restricted for under-18 use; for simple, practical reasons. The human body is nowhere near done developing, and any drug use, legal or otherwise, can have profound long-term effects. Low to moderate use may be fine; but few teens do anything moderately -- alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, sex, or whatever.

And you and your daughter have ever right to be upset about being unwillingly exposed to cannabis, or anything else for that matter. Are there any alternatives to the bus?

[roger]

Narc on the bus company. I'll bet when the state police, governer, etc., are involved your school district and bus company will suddenly find themselves interested in stopping the smoking. If I was driving a car and the passager was smoking weed and I was pulled over, I do believe I'd be arrested.

Follow up with letters to the editor, or, better yet, call the newspapers and ask if they are interested in writing a story on this. Call the radio stations.

Heck, give your daughter a cell phone and instruct her to call 911 if she smells it. I believe the police are required to respond to calls. Bet the smokers will be bummed out to have the cops take their stash, arrest them, and notify their parents.

Yes, I relise that all of this may focus more attention on your daughter than she is comfortable with, but it's an option.

I'm also not a lawyer or police officer, so I don't know if everything I wrote above in regards to the law is true.

I actually could care less if the kids smoke a bit of weed, but you do, and it is against the law, and that is what counts.

[Dogdoctor]

I can understand your being upset and I am not a parent but have thought about how to be one a bit. I am pretty sure your kids will be exposed to pot one way or another in a public school system. I think a public bus though should not be a place where kids can smoke pot free of consequences. There is only so much you can do within reason to stop kids form smoking pot in public areas and I guess it depends on where you draw the line or the budget does it for you. However, if I got that kind of run around and I was worried about it I would contact the local law enforcement and explain your dilemma after first informing the bus company and the city council of your intentions.

[Chanileslie]

I have to agree with everyone else who has chimed in on this thread, you have every right to be upset about this. Minors should not be smoking anything on the school bus. I am not sure about the laws in your state, but you might check with the police department about the legality of permitting children to smoke an illegal substance on a school bus. It might put a bee in the bonnet of both the bus company and your town, and maybe they will make a change. Isn't the bus company liable for behavior on thier buses?

[kittynh]

After calling around I've decided to contact the state police. They have a drug enforcement unit.

The problem is that everyone is going to know who complained. My only fear is that it will be "cleaned up" for a short time. I'm going to get the bus company in trouble...and as EVERYONE tells me it's very difficult to get bus drivers and a bus service in such a rural area. Tough cookies.

I'm pro pot. I'm ok with it. Like Penn and Teller I've just decided to say no for myself.

So far in two days school has been a total bust. She has her IEP for her learning disablility. Her one mainstream class has a teacher that has totally ignored her IEP. She's been asked to write in class, read in class (out loud) and has been given 2 homework assignments that have not been modified for her in anyway. The Learning Disabilities teacher has gone in and talked to this stupid teacher TWICE. The teacher STILL hasn't figured out which child in her class is my daughter. (that is her excuse, but we are still scratching our heads over her homework tonight which includes writing an essay....).

She is supposed to OK my daughter talking into a tape recorder, and tape recorders are supposed to be supplied by the school. Right....waiting waiting....

We are only doing this as it is an alternative to home schooling until my elder daughter is done with college. We have already hired a tutor to REALLY teach her. Her public school provided reading classes consists of my daughter, and 3 boys that did not even know what the word "dyslexia" means...

It's beyond awful. If it doesnt' improve soon, we're hiring a lawyer. They all talk so nicely. But this isn't lack of funds, it's just simply lack of trying.

[Dogdoctor]

The problem is that everyone is going to know who complained. My only fear is that it will be "cleaned up" for a short time. I'm going to get the bus company in trouble...and as EVERYONE tells me it's very difficult to get bus drivers and a bus service in such a rural area. Tough cookies.

That is why I would inform the city and the bus company prior to informing the police. It gives them a chance to avoid problems and come out of it without any serious complications.

[Zep]

It would seem there's more than a dope-fest on the schoolbus is the problem with that school. It looks to be far more a community problem - lack of caring, as you say. They don't care what the kids do on the bus, they don't care who is responsible for supervising them, they don't care about designated special needs in school, they just don't seem to care!

I'd not be bothering to take anyone on to "fix" the situation because I suspect the local law won't care to do much either. What will they actually do to curb this behaviour, do you think? Anything positive? I suspect not...

Plan to take Kitten2 out of there as soon as possible, into something more suitable that you know will work. Don't waste your time and angst on these losers, spend it productively on getting her schooled properly.

[kittynh]

It's driving me nuts! We've privately schooled her for 9 years. You would think they could handle ONE FREAKING YEAR! The hard part is that the village where I live (can you say we don't have a police department, or even mayor....) has to pay tuition to the nearest town that has a high school. The high school has about 2000 children from all the small towns and villages around.

Then you run into the big problems. The village is supposed to pay for educating our child. That means if she goes to a private school for children with her learning problems (and there are some great ones) the village has to pay. It's $30,000 a year for this type of school. Or they can pay $7,000 to the local high school. So you have to fight tooth and nail to get into a private school. We pretty much figure we'll be paying the tuition...because no way are they going to say they CAN'T educate her at the public school. But all we need is one year. Two would be great, especially with the economy perhaps going to pot with gas prices. But we are commited to 2 years, if not 3, of paying no matter how we manage it. It's just we CAN'T kittens senior college year.

So we are filled with guilt. IF this doesn't work soon we are going to just fight the system. If they DARE give her a bad grade, I'm taking them down. You can't have an IEP that says, "no writing, all assignments are allowed to be done on a tape recorder" and then have the teacher refuse. (she emailed me she doesn't have a tape recorder and doesn't have the time to listen to an assignment, so Kitten2 "must" write her answers.)

AUGHAUGHAUGHAUGHAUGH!!!

Home schooling, I can just see it happening soon. And the sad part is that she is really enjoying meeting her friends at school, and getting involved with after school stuff.

Oh did I mention the high school has had 8 principals in 7 years? Kind of says something doesn't it?

the funny thing is that Kitten said she was the ONLY child to answer questions in class today. The teacher tried asking, "what adaptations have people made to survive?" Kitten said everyone just SAT there. Finally she said, "Build shelters?" then she came up with a lot more adaptations. The teacher told me that she didn't think my daughter was learning disabled, as she was the only one that "talked and answered questions" in class. She thinks we are "mistaken" in her learning disabiled diagnosis. Gee, sure am glad she cleared that up for us. Maybe I should call the child neurology department at Yale University where THEY claim she's learning disabled. Lord knows, learning disabled kids are STUPID....everyone knows that.:(

[Boo]

Awww geez kitty, sounds like the whole situation is FUBAR'ed. There should be an organization within the state that helps parents of kids with disabilities and they hould help you find the resources you need, including advocates and lawyers to help you with the IEP issues.


Wish I could help more. If there is anything besides moral support, PM me.


:rub:


Boo

[Zep]

Kitty, if you are going to take on the bureaucracy, get your paperwork in order!, and get your demands clear and consistent up front. Really, it all runs on paper - every little detail. Getting verbal assurances from bureaucrats about anything is just getting flipped the bird but politely. Keeping your demands consistent prevents them clouding the issues or sidetracking you (a favourite tactic!).

You need all the documents and stuff that say that K2 really does need this type of schooling, and that she is going to get it, in this school, from all her teachers. If you have not got something clear from them, ask for it now, in writing. I would be calling for an immediate meeting of school board rep, headmaster, and teacher involved. Take a copy of the email you got, and demand that the teacher be immediately provided with sufficient resources (unless she is just being a lazy sod!).

If you want to get into the bus issue, get the bus company people to sign affadavits that they "are not responsible" for care on the bus, safety after school, policing illegal activities on the buses, etc. If needs be, go travel on the school bus, and if you can, take pics of the kids doobying down the back. Anything and everything will need to be in hardcopy. Then take it to the appropriate authorities, including the school board and the school insurance agency (somebody covers this, surely!).

Remember, though, that this course of action will certainly not sit well with all your neighbours. The school admin won't like it either. K2 may also feel the brunt. The alternatives, such as home-schooling and tutoring, may be a better and far less inflammatory answer.

Wild idea: Ask Boo to be K2's tutor! Two birds, one stone??

[Kiless]

Gah, Zep - I come back after formulating a similar response... and you posted before me! Never mind, I'll apply for the million with the statement 'Zep can read my mind'. :)

But yeah - what he said.

Sheesh, I bloody well would be ripping the bus driver a new one after dropping off students to me zonked out on dope. How dare they! :mad:

[Zep]

Sorry, m'dear! :)

[kittynh]

HA!

Well, I got in touch with the NH parents of kids wilt LD group (it has a fancy name). I'm getting information on hiring an advocate. They told me that my school is really "good". Problem is K2 is too well tutored. She's really too smart for their program, because most of the kids they have in the program have had no tutoring or special help.

However, we can hire an advocate! Heheheheheheh!!!!

More money for us, but we'll try to find someway to pay for it. The advocate is your own personal "pit bull". We are going to get a pit bull.

as for the bus, I contacted the state. They told me that they are "on top of it", and I felt quite happy when I was done talking with them. Hopefully the drug dealer they are tracking doesn't read the forum!

[rjh01]

There is software that can understand spoken words. You could put that on your computer and get your daughter to use it. Then she can hand in an assignment that is not only correctly typed, but all her own work.

Do not hold your breath waiting for anyone to do anything on drugs. Lots of money in drugs.

[kittynh]

She has used that software. We're really waiting for it to get better. She has a very soft voice with a slight lisp. Nothing you would notice. But, she would need speech therapy to use the software. And she has so much tutoring and schooling already. It is supposed to be getting better all the time.

Last night she just cried. She had her reading class homework, and she cried. It's really hard.

She was reading "id, it, ip, ib, ti, pi, bi, di...."

Then a list of words, "pip, dip, dib, bib, pib, pit...."

She then collapsed in tears. You have to understand, trying to read that was like running a marathon. She could NOT get it 100% correct no matter how many times she tried.

Fun, now reading class is torture time. I felt like telling them, give it up! Let's focus on helping her compensate, forget the first grade reading - believe it or not the tutors for the past years HAVE tried your stupid method that doesn't work for her. ggrrrr...

[luchog]

Yeesh. This is just ridiculous. My school district wasn't quite this bad; but close to it, and enough that my parents pulled me out and home schooled me for my entire high-school time. I sure as hell didn't miss anything not going to those useless schools.

My life partner has some some serious, and similar, problems with her local schools; because of her son who has Asperger's Syndrome. In particular, one teacher who "doesn't believe in" Asperger's, and a ******* Principle who would rather stand around oogling the girls than actually doing his job (seriously, the guy's a major sleaze and everyone knows it), and will back up his teachers no matter how wrong they are.

[Zep]

Originally posted by kittynh
She has used that software. We're really waiting for it to get better. She has a very soft voice with a slight lisp. Nothing you would notice. But, she would need speech therapy to use the software. And she has so much tutoring and schooling already. It is supposed to be getting better all the time.

Last night she just cried. She had her reading class homework, and she cried. It's really hard.

She was reading "id, it, ip, ib, ti, pi, bi, di...."

Then a list of words, "pip, dip, dib, bib, pib, pit...."

She then collapsed in tears. You have to understand, trying to read that was like running a marathon. She could NOT get it 100% correct no matter how many times she tried.

Fun, now reading class is torture time. I felt like telling them, give it up! Let's focus on helping her compensate, forget the first grade reading - believe it or not the tutors for the past years HAVE tried your stupid method that doesn't work for her. ggrrrr... Whoah! Those types of words are absolute KILLERS for dyslexics - I should know, they still trip me up sometimes now.

Incidentally, have you looked at stuff like this? They are not claiming 100% success at all, it has been controversial in the past, and it does seem to be fairly non-woo research now. And I think you would be well equipped now to know when you might be being flim-flammed!

http://www.eye-care.org.uk/item_view.php?item_id=187&content_id=7

However the "science" does have its critics. Here is an article that is skeptical of the process so far.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2843/is_4_28/ai_n6100519

[Zep]

Originally posted by luchog
My life partner has some some serious, and similar, problems with her local schools; because of her son who has Asperger's Syndrome. In particular, one teacher who "doesn't believe in" Asperger's, and a ******* Principle who would rather stand around oogling the girls than actually doing his job (seriously, the guy's a major sleaze and everyone knows it), and will back up his teachers no matter how wrong they are. If any of those girls does martial arts, he's looking for a kick in the multiplication machinery for a start.

[shemp]

I knew I shouldn't have read this thread. Now you got me started all over again about the goddamn public schools. I know the following is of no help whatsoever, but I feel compelled to get it off my chest:

THE VAST MAJORITY OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE USA ARE A COMPLETE DISGRACE! THEY ARE GROSSLY UNDERFUNDED, MOST OF THE ADMINISTRATORS ARE MINDLESS PAPER-PUSHERS, HALF THE TEACHERS ARE DOOFUSES WHO ARE SIMPLY PUTTING IN THEIR HOURS, AND MOST OF THE TAXPAYERS WON'T PUT UP THE MONEY NECESSARY TO CORRECT THE SITUATION.

I think anyone who has the means to put their child in a good private school, or the means to home-school their child, and instead lets them rot in public school, should be convicted of child abuse and sterilized! (Present company excepted, of course :D) U.S. public schools are mostly a training ground for criminals, burger-flippers, and the chronically unemployed.

There, now that's off my chest, maybe I can get some sleep.

[kittynh]

Trust me Shemp I hear you!

She was supposed to be home schooled this year, and she wanted to go to the high school, mostly for social reasons.

We did a TON of work and our neighbor is in charge of the LD kids at the school. I'm honestly scared about the quality of education for the LD kids without an "in".

I've told her again and agian, "you say the word and you are OUT."

Meanwhile, we're starting tutoring in a week. I'm hiring an advocate, and spending a lot of time shaking my head.

I have to say that the facility is nice. Everything has been updated, so unlike Monadnock High school which is physically crumbling before you eyes, Keene High won't collapse on her head. I hope....

ONE STUPID YEAR PEOPLE!!! That's all I asked!

[Chris Haynes]

This makes me feel rediculously lucky.

Last year the teacher my learning disabled son had for Language Arts and Study Skills is very dyslexic. His goal was to teach his students how to cope with skills that he had learned. Including a type of index card note taking called "Cornell notes".

Unfortunately, last January my son decided to stop doing homework. His teachers worked very hard trying to get him to do work. They called me... his LA teacher even had him do the work owed to him in the last period study skills class that he had my son in. All my son would do is write his name on the paper, a couple of sentences... let the bell ring --- and the teacher never saw it again.

So I've been taking my son to a behavioral psychologist during the summer. His Language Arts/Study Skills teacher offered to talk to the psychologist about my son. He did talk to me for a long time filling me on the situation.

Since my son had been doing well, and improving in 9th grade, they thought he could handle a full schedule of regular ed. in the 11th grade (he'd been taking regular science, math, and computer, but modified Language Arts and Social Studies with a Studies Skills class). But since he decided not to do homework, and essentially failed a third of all his classes in 10th grade, they backed off on that (yes, he passed PE, study skills and barely squeaked by on science the second semester). He will be taking a regular history class, but still be in a modified Language Arts class and still have a Study Skills class. We will also be checking out the vocational skills classes for him in the near future.

This is an urban high school of about 1650 students near a large university. So there are a large range of students. From those who are having trouble speaking English to those who are taking all their classes except band at the local community college (I helped pass out schedules today). It is one of 10 high schools in the city, plus there are 10 other programs for high school students (including one kindergarten through 12 alternative school).

I'm sure there are the pot smokers... they do not seem to be on the bus (so far). Though I went to school the kids were smoking pot at lunch across the street in the woods... and I knew kids who did speed (fun time, sigh). So far though the only effect on my kids' circle of friends is that one boy is not on the 9th grader's soccer team because he is in some facility.

NOW... for my 9th grader today! Today was the day for kids to go in and get their schedules, locker assignments, pictures taken, etc... so it was come in, get stuff and then go home. So my 9th grade son was walking down the street with his friends in a small pack checking out the restaurants on the commercial area. He stepped out of the way to let some older man walk by, BUT instead of just walking the man grabbed my son by the shoulders, shook him and shouted "Leave room on the sidewalk for people, PUNK!".

sigh

He said it scared him, but he seemed unfazed. He was actually more scared auditioning for the Jazz Band... and as well he should be, it is an award winning band (Essentially Ellington).

Anyway, good luck... and I hope you know about this place:
http://www.wrightslaw.com/

[kittynh]

we've dug trenches...

so her one mainstream class seems to be going well. We did ask that the teacher NOT write notes on her papers in cursive. I can't even read what this woman has written. Just print. She complained that we had asked her to do this. We asked nicely!

ARGH!!!

[chipotle]

I think someone is playing a joke on your kid, and there is no pot smoking on the bus. Burn some sage. I've been told pot smells just like that. Tell your girl to stay away from that smell (unless there is a good reason for sage smoke, like there is a fish cook). Don't let a kid's practical joke throw you all out of sorts.

[TjW]

Originally posted by kittynh
we've dug trenches...

so her one mainstream class seems to be going well. We did ask that the teacher NOT write notes on her papers in cursive. I can't even read what this woman has written. Just print. She complained that we had asked her to do this. We asked nicely!

ARGH!!!
I'm not sure how it works where you are, but here in California, anyone can call a formal meeting (there's a TLA for it I can't remember) at any time. This generates a fair chunk of paperwork that everyone has to sign. If you have this, use it. It's not a "nuclear option" at all, but it means several people have to take time out of their day for the meeting, generate all the paperwork, file all the paperwork...
My daughter had a teacher who was not following the program as written. After several attempts by the special ed teacher to get her to cooperate, I mentioned to the principal that I thought I was going to have to call a meeting to get this all documented and resolved. The teacher still had a bad attitude, but did start following the program.
Now, with this particular principal, it may not have been the paperwork bomb that got things going (he's pretty conscientious), but it wouldn't take many meetings to make printing legibly look like the softer option.

[kittynh]

Originally posted by chipotle
I think someone is playing a joke on your kid, and there is no pot smoking on the bus. Burn some sage. I've been told pot smells just like that. Tell your girl to stay away from that smell (unless there is a good reason for sage smoke, like there is a fish cook). Don't let a kid's practical joke throw you all out of sorts.

Oddly enough it was the school guidance counselor and her LD coordinator that told me this happens. They were very open about it, and were not happy this happened, but hey.

I know at my old high school there was a section in the "quad" that was where kids were "allowed" to smoke pot. It was thought that their doing it at school was better than at home (and not making it to class). So, this isn't totally off the wall to me.

[Zep]

I have to say I'm really surprised they would allow ANY smoking, tobacco, pot or dried payute for that matter, on the school premises. Think of two factors: the health and safety liabilities (insurance), and the disregard for the standing law. Seems school is a LOT different than what I knew as a kid - they were NOT your illegally indulgent and overprotective parents then...

[Brown]

This may sound a little radical, but here goes.

Consider moving to the Midwest.

Public schools in the Midwest (particularly Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin) are usually pretty good. Year after year, students from these states usually outscore the rest of the country on standardized tests. My public school teachers were, on the whole, excellent.

Where I went to school, teachers were very sensitive to kids with LDs who had been mainstreamed.

On the matter of pot, I hold these two views: (1) I personally think that if people want to smoke pot, it's their own business; however, (2) I don't want them to smoke it near me. The main reason that I don't want anyone smoking weed near me is that some police officers will be overzealous when they catch somebody with pot. Not only will they arrest and search the offender, some of them have been known to arrest and search anyone who happens to be in the vicinity. The last thing I wanted on my record was that I had been arrested on suspicion of violation of controlled substance laws.

[kittynh]

Kitten2 was born in Two Rivers Wisconsin. Until I lived there I believed all that stuff too. Kittens godparents live in Minneapolis.

Drinking was a super big issue. Also, the total lack of respect for gays, and other minorities. We may not have a lot of minorities here in NH, but we are kind to those we do have!

We could not adopt a foreign child when we lived there because the climate of tolerance was not there.

Honestly, our school does very well every year. Our public school is number 2 in the state. But, that is THEIR standard. Also Kitten2 is VERY LD. They are not set up to deal with this level. Or how can I put it, they WILL ensure she will graduate high school. College, or being prepared for college, no way. And perhaps that is not their job.

We hired a lovely tutor. She teaches college at Landmark College, which is one of the ONLY colleges in the world for people with LD. You basically go for two years and learn how to finish at a regular college. We've always hired and payed for tutors ourselves. The funny thing is that the high school insisted THEY would give her all the tutoring she needed. Finally our friend pulled us aside and said that if they said she needed more tutoring then they would be obligated to pay for it. So by insisting her time in school was enough they were off the hook. She told us to PLEASE if we wish her to attend college hire a tutor. Which we were planning on anyway.

The new tutor is focused on college for her. We are going to start working on the technology that can help her. Also, one day a week she is tutoring on the campus of Landmark College so she can see kids with LD going to college.

Our focus has never been just to get her though high school. Actually that has been HER focus. We have often just given up, thinking we should plan for some votech training. She is the one that insists on college. As long as she doesn't give up we won't.

The pot smoking, who cares? What I care about is that there are so many things that are addressed as "not my problem". Heck if her teachers all sat up front and smoked pot I wouldn't care, as long as they did a good job. But the whole, "smoking pot on the bus is wrong" but "it's not my job to take care of it" is a problem. The whole, "well, the crowd she'll hang out with isn't smoking pot." That was interesting. I kept thinking, "it should or should not be a problem, but it's not a problem if the middle class kids aren't doing it?"

She has started eating lunch with a really nice girl. She also has LD. Her advisor told me she thought it was funny they have become friends. When I asked why she told me, "well, she gets the free lunch if you know what I mean." Actually, no, I don't get what she means.

I am so not fun at parties.:(

[Chris Haynes]

Originally posted by kittynh
...
She has started eating lunch with a really nice girl. She also has LD. Her advisor told me she thought it was funny they have become friends. When I asked why she told me, "well, she gets the free lunch if you know what I mean." Actually, no, I don't get what she means. ....:(

Free or reduced fee lunch are for those children from households where the income is below a certain threshold. It has nothing to do with learning disabilities, but everything to do with income.

Some of the kids in my kids' elementary school qualified for free or reduced fee lunch BUT were also in the gifted range. Their parents (or parent) were often full time students at the university, often in medical school. Many lived in university family housing that had once been housing at the former Navy base (used to remind me of the places I grew up in, just like the funky townhouses and apartments on Army posts).

(humor note: When younger son was in 2nd grade, one of his classmates came to school claiming he was an "alien"! It turned out that his dad had been filling out forms for being a "resident alien". His parents were lawyers from Korea. His dad finished up some fellowship and moved back to Korea, but his mom stayed on for another six months getting some kind of specialized law degree).

[kittynh]

well, I do know what that means. What the teacher meant was that children of the same economic level usually hang together.

So it was nothing to do with LD, and everything to do with the kid wasn't wearing designer clothing. Of course, Kitten2 doesn't either, but the impression that she would have nothing in common with a child from a perhaps more needy family is silly.