And then there is homeschooling by necessity...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/41326711#40906933

The school won't let the boy's service dog go to school with him. He has seizures, which the dog can detect, and the magnet on her collar can stop or lessen a seizure. But the dog was trained by the "wrong" service dog trainer, so she can't go to school....

 

Oh, yes. That dog is extremely disruptive. :roll: If the people watching the video also remember how chaotic a TV set is, the lights, the machinery, the rushing around, and the dog just lays there because the boy is at rest. Amazing to me. She has obviously received extensive training. And from the sound of it, more specialized training than she would have received had she been trained by the "approved" group. I didn't think that government run places could prohibit therapy dogs, anyway. Part of the American's With Disabilities Act, right?

 

Yes, a dog IS extremely disruptive in school. I've had one in my classroom. There was no end to the trouble it caused. But the problem isn't the DOG, but the children. The idea of a "working dog" doesn't click. I believe they said this 12yo boy is working on a K or First level. My guess is that he's either in a Special Needs class where the children are more exciteable, or he's in a regular k/1 class with younger, immature kids. Either way, the dog's presence alone can be a problem. Plus there's allergies to contend with, and I've had children who are irrationally afraid of all animals. And who's going to take him out when he needs to go? Depending on the child, this also falls to the adult in the classroom.

I LOVE dogs. I have two. And I don't think the other children are in danger in any way from the dog biting or anything. But I also think we're too quick to think, "Poor little handicapped kid!" And you KNOW I'm not a "friend" of public schools, lol! But this issue has a side that hasn't been presented.

(I might add that a few years back, a principal in Columbus was bringing in her German Shepherd that was trained as a "therapy dog". When kids were sent to her office, they received "unconditional love" from the dog, and even the toughest kids were easier to deal with. The Board had to put a stop to that, citing allergies as the reason.)

 

I'm pretty sure this violates the American with Disabilities Act. Maybe it can cause a disruption, but it's probably not anymore disruptive than having a seizure in class. The word "lawsuit" would probably make the school back down in a minute because it's unlikely they would win.

 

I agree with Mom2scouts. Kids are very adaptable. If the dog is a contsant in the room, I think it is a fantastic opportunity to expose the kids to assistance animals and learn to respect that they are working and are not to be pet at will. (they should be taught that about anyone's dog, not just assistance animals)

Not sure how allergies play out, but I'm sure that it could be taken in a case by case sorta way. I suppose that is why things like this end up in court: is a sneeze for one child more important than controlling seizures in another? As far as kids being afraid of something, I wonder if the school prohibits mascots because some people have irrational fears of those, too. Just some addition thoughts, not sure how I would decide it if I was a judge, either.

 

Maybe y'all heard this the same as I did, or maybe I'm the only one who heard it this way -- when the anchor guy asked the kid if he wanted to go back to school, it sure sounded to me like the kid said, "Nuh-uh" (rather than uh-huh) - twice.

 

I caught that, too, Lindina!!! :lol:

 

So how long does the dog need to be there before it stops being a distraction? I had one for a whole year. You would think that would be long enough for the kids to, just "get use to it". But it was just as much a distraction at the end of the year as in the beginning. And when a child is having difficulty breathing because of allergies, it is SERIOUS. I'm not talking a little cough or sneeze.

 

Gonna play devil's advocate here, Jackie. How many children actually have breathing issues due to animal allergies? Most people who claim an animal allergy barely react. I understand some people do, but most have minimal symptoms. I am allergic to cats and the only time I ever actually had a sniffle was when I was a vet tech and had to clean out multiple cages of concentrated cat dander. If the animal is kept cleaned and groomed, it keeps the dander down. German shepherds are double coated which helps keep the dander close to the skin as opposed to in the air unles the allergic child has their hands in the dogs fur a lot.

Might I also suggest that there are preventative medications that many, many children use because of a dust allergy on a daily basis, like Claritin (which now has a generic form). So, once again (playing devil's advocate), if a child's allergy is minimal or easily and effectively controled, to which child do we cater? (I really don't have a clear opinion on this, I'm just fascinated by the thought that all parties in this feel a sense 'I'm not having attention given to my needs')

 

I guess I have a rather unpopular opinion in this which is that if your child has a special need, allergy, health condition, or whatever that is the parent's responsibility to deal with not the school. The school is there to educate your child, nothing else. If this child needs the dog then he should have the dog, but it is not up to the school to accommodate him and the dog, it is up to the parents to find a way for him to both be educated and have the dog (homeschool, special needs school, private tutor, hire a dog handler to keep the dog under control, whatever), but it is not the responsibility of the school to change their policies to cater to this one child.

The same could be said for my own children as well, I have a child with severe asthma (and little control of said asthma) should I expect the school to remove all dust, particles, and possible triggers just to keep my child safe? NO, I should not it is my responsibility (fortunately I homeschool so this is not an issue for us), it is up to me to be sure my child has his medication at school when he needs it, up to me to be sure there is always enough medication for him, up to me to take precautions to protect him.

Again, I understand that children have health issues, special needs, and such but it is not the responsibility of the school to protect him, it is up to me as his parent. If school is not safe for him then I need to find an alternative. The school is responsible to provide a reasonably safe environment for children, but what is safe for one is not always safe for the other. So the school needs to make things reasonably safe for MOST children and they can work with parents for the rest of the children, however they should not be responsible to choose one child's safety over another.

 

Brooke, I understand that there are all degrees of allergies. I had a friend who came over once a week for a Bible Study at my house. That morning, we would lock the cat in the basement and do a thorough cleaning. He would take medication before coming. Even so, he could stay no more than an hour and a half before he would start having trouble. He claims that if he were to stay longer, he'd have trouble breathing. I wouldn't want a child to be trapped in that environment for 5 hours a day, 5 days a week. Keep in mind that I am dealing with special needs children. Often their reactions are more severe. They are also usually more highly distractable, and more likely to "go off". Having a dog in the classroom can exasperate a situation. Again, I am NOT concerned about the dog going off and biting a child. While always a possibility with a dog, I know these dogs are trained to where the chances of that happening are VERY low.

I just know that my experience of having a dog in the classroom was not a positive one, not for ANYONE involved. The student wasn't mature enough to deal with having a working dog, nor were the other students in the class.

Birbitt, very good points!

 

I'm caught between thinking if the boy really needs his dog then yes, let him have it.. and the reality of the video as I saw it.

I agree, the boy didn't seem like he was old enough mentally to be capable of controlling the dog. Yes, the dog seemed EXTREMELY well trained, but things can still happen.

I'm also left wondering about the incident that was mentioned by the host (sorry.. blond moment and his name escapes me... Matt!). If the dog is so good at her job, WHY did mom have to use her magnetic wrist band? Why didn't the dog do it?

Now, obviously, I wasn't there. Maybe the dog was out going to the bathroom, or.. who knows. But it did make me wonder.

 

Sorry, Jackie. I wasn't trying to argue with you directly. I was just pointing out how many different concerns are represented in one request for an assistance dog. It would be great to have a wise judge like Solomon hear the case. There is probably a perfect solution lingering out there somewhere.

 

I don't know if this dog going to school is right, wrong, or other. What I do know is that his doctor recommended it and the school is not allowing it. That, to me, is a far more dangerous issue than the problem of the dog in school.

What's next?

 

Looking at THIS video and not the WHOLE issue, I'd say no, this kid doesn't need the dog at school... for many of the reasons Jackie pointed out. I don't even think he wants to be at school (judging by the last 15 seconds of the video). He's 12, and he's on the level of a 5 year old? He should be learning life skills anyway. They didn't seem very optimistic about his ability to learn. They only wanted the dog there for him to function. I think (and this is totally my opinion) that the mom is (justifiably) very worn out from having a special needs child at home, and she wants a break by putting him in PS all day. Homeschooling him isn't necessary in her mind. Maybe I'm wrong.

 

In the video, they did say that his parents want him to be able to do things "like all the other kids" -- eg, public school?

The point of having the dog with him at all times is that the dog seems to be able to detect it before he has a seizure, and can set off the vagus nerve stimulator with the magnet, so that the seizure stops before it can get started good. Or lessen the severity of one. The school would have accepted the dog, if I understood correctly, if she had been trained by the "right" trainer.

 

Meghan, I'm wondering if the dog was trained not to respond if MOM was there...?

 

I agree that it seems the school would take him if trained by the "right" trainer.

 

As someone with animal allergies and having children with animal allergies, I would get upset if an animal that my child was allergic to was in the same room with my child all day. As someone that can have a severe asthma attack just sitting next to someone who has animal dander on their clothes I would get upset about it as well. I agree with previous post. The school should not be made to accomodate the needs for such child. It is ultimately the parents responsibility. There are so many different options out there now to educate children.

 

Brooke, I know you weren't arguing. We were just discussing, and you were presenting your view. That's fine! I think, after all these years, I know your heart and won't be offended when no offense was meant. :love: