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http://www.timesdaily.com/arti...l-allows-service-dog


I don't hesitate for one minute to say that the biggest reason for this is the public outcry in favor of it. If left to their own devices, I'm quite sure the ridiculously rigid school board(s)would have found a way to deny it. But hey, whatever worked!
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I'd probably keep him out also but they should have made this decision earlier....WH, I don't know exactly how all this works...I DO know that my grandson that is autistic has certain people/things that set him into an outrage...other people/things keep him very calm. Autism is a mystery....but if this dogs helps him in any way, then he should be allowed to have it! I plan to research this dog/autism thing more today, but I believe this family when they say he is much more calm. You can't imagine the stress/strain autism puts on the entire family.
this will not be a popular response, but i can see both sides really...i do not know this family nor have an interest in the school board so it really doesn't affect me either way...just an opinion...
they're allowing this dog to help keep this precious boy calm...what if it aggitates other children-ie, the add child who struggles to pay attention now has to block out a dog in his environment?...what if there are those with allergies to animals forced to be in the pressence of the animal?...do we now as taxpayers, pay someone to take of this animal?-surely it will have to have bathroom breaks? what about the lunchroom environment?...i realize they keep pointing out $13,000 animal...wouldn't you check with the school system prior to paying that not knowing if it would be allowed at school??
i can see this opening doors that we may or may not can afford to enter in 'free' public education...glad i didn't have to make the decision...seems tho that the good of the individual overrode the good of the group...heartstring decision?
Last edited by Gypsee
WH, I found many things on the 4 paws site....very interesting and helpful in explaining . I can't figure out how to attach the particular letter from one parent but if you are interested, go to the site and there are many questions answered. Gypsee, I do see many of your points, but I really can't see the problem...I do not see it as opening doors for problems. These dogs are NOT just pets...they are trained. Hudson does not just roam the school without supervision..go to the website I just wrote about and read some responses. Quite interesting. You have valid concerns that might be answered.
Most public school regular classes have special needs students in them and some of the students have outbursts you wouldn't believe, randomly and all day every day. Now, THERE'S a distraction. But, those students have a right to be mainstreamed so the other students just have to deal with it. All people must learn to be flexible. It's a lesson of life. And I agree that this dog isn't a pet. She is trained not to be distracted and not to cause distractions. They'll stop even noticing her after a while.
a whole lot depends on how severe this kids autism is.

unless it's pretty mild, this is probably a moto issue anyway. a child with severe autism wouldn't be able to learn anything in a class room environment anyway.

they require very seriously strict regulated and timed schedules, and they require dedicated attention from an instructor.

so my guess is that this kid isn't severly affected by his condition. if he IS severly autistic, and his parents are tryinf to send him to public school anyway, they are idiots.

so, it could just be that the dog is required to keep the kid relaxed and easy in class. and if that's it, i'm in favor of it.
if other kids in a middle school can't adapt to a dog in the room, then they are the ones with the problem.

however. if there does arise a situation where one of hte kids in the class is allergic to dogs, then the dog has to go.

YES this child deserves an education - but his right to a dog in the class cannot supercede another childs health.

maybe that's a little callous of me, and my opinion doesn't count for that much because my kids don't go to that school, and neither are allergic to dogs.

but i tried to think, yeah, but what if they were, how would i feel about it?

as long as none of the kids are in any way endangered by the dog, i'm all for it. if a child is allergic, i'm not. that means someone has to decide which child is more important.
in such a situation, you have to go against the child that is causing things to be out of the normal scope of things. he's the one that requires a special situation, and it is outrageously unfair to ask the world to alter itself for his convience.

but, like ew say around here... i ain't got a dog in that race, so my opinion is of limited validity Smiler
i'm obviously not a very good 'wordsmith' as they say but i'm wondering, lots of folks are calling this a "service" dog...what service is she providing? relaxation? is that a service or a state of being for an individual? i thought service meant "in place of something you can't do for yourself"? does this qualify? i believe that was a delima for the board...the child can obviously see and get around on his own physically to where it is not a safety issue..just a ton of 'what ifs'...what if a pet python is soothing to another special needs child, can they bring that to school?...what if there are those (and there are btw) who are terrified of dogs not having grown up in that type environment?...guess i'm just frustrated that the average student who shows up daily, makes decent grades, causes no trouble, seems to be without rights these days...unless your trouble, good in sports, or deemed 'special', you have very few federal rights apparently - at least when comparing situations such as this...
This service dog does provide a service, she keeps him safe, not just calm. I think it would be helpful for alot of you to go to their website and understand more about the dogs. Also learning a bit more about autism and all its forms would help you understand the need for the dog. What if this was your child, would you not be an advocate for them as well. I thank God that my child is a healthy child but also thank him for these exceptional children and the special parents he entrusted them to. We encounter all sorts of people in this world and learning this early in life is a wonderful thing. I think all of these children at the school will benefit from this experience.
I am quite sure that if a parent of another child can prove that an allergy to the dog etc will harm their child, the school will do its duty and see that their education is not hindered as well and will adjust their schedule as needed.

I'm almost certain, too, that any "care" for the dog -- a crate, food, etc -- are the responsibility of the parents and not the school and that it will be up to them to make sure the dog is clean and cared for even in school hours.

In many ways, the dog will help the teacher and possibly other classes as well because if they rally together to help care for the dog -- it will teach responsibility and service as well.

What I don't get is no one complains when a teacher has guinea pigs, little white mice, fish in a bowl -- etc in their classroom as a "teaching" prop -- yet many are up in arms over a service dog to a child.

I can see both sides but I would be one to err on the side of the autistic child in this case until other negative side effects could be proved.
Let's add a litle lightness to a solved situation! The remark about the small animals in school brought to mind the incident in which the teacher who had a prized praying mantis was absent the day the exterminator came. Teachers were even allowed to leave as soon as the children did to clear the school. Alas, no one thought of the praying mantis! No one was ever forgiven - especially the principal, R.I.P., praying mantis! Seriously, turtles do carry salmonella which could pose a threat.
hey, come on guys.. i'm not saying the kid doesn't have a right to be in school, or the right to have his service dog while he's there.

all i'm really trying to get across is that, special needs or not, no child is more important than any other child, except to that child's parents.

i'm saying that other children should not be disadvantaged, because of a disadvantaged kid.

if there's no problems, then this isn't an issue. if there are no allergies, then it's a NON issue.

it just annoys me a little when a child with special needs IS given priority over other kids without special needs, as tho the special needs child were more important and the rest of them. it makes it unfair to the other kids, and sends a pretty bad message to everyone involved.

' look, kid, sucks you're in that wheel chair, but just remember you'll be able to be first at everything, you can use this as an excuse to get out of trouble, you won't wait in lines, so you can tell those poor loser walkers to stuff it. you're way more important than they are.'

that's the message we're sending when we put one kid ahead of others just because they have different needs.

sorry.. i just believe people should be treated equally.
really and truly equally.
we should accomodate for special needs, but after the accomedations are made, hold him to the same expectations and rules as everyone else within his ability to meet them.
you can't ask a parapelgic to run the 400 meter relay.... but you CAN teach him to throw a javalin, or shot put, or teach him to lift weights.
just beef up the stand that the barbell sits on to make room for his chair, and let him go to town. 'special needs' and 'disadvantaged' and 'handicapped' don't mean 'unable'.
you adapt to their needs, then you treat em like regular people.
cause they are Smiler
thenagel -- it really annoys me when a teacher's child gets preferential treatment or a kid from a family with more money is treated like a king while someone that isn't as fortunate gets overlooked as well. Wink I think kids should be treated equally as well -- so when the "popular" kids are treated just as equally as the "geeks" or the "goths" or the "special ed" kids then I'm sure we'll live in a perfect world. Hold your breath on that one...Wink
quote:
it just annoys me a little when a child with special needs IS given priority over other kids without special needs, as tho the special needs child were more important and the rest of them. it makes it unfair to the other kids, and sends a pretty bad message to everyone involved.


Does the term "special needs" not mean anything? I would hope the message was to help others and not complain about their treatment.

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