RM, you ROCK! I have a picture on the first page of every section of the parent reports. I also prefer doctors who take photos of their patients for the files. It helps them keep people straight.
I wish it was possible to beat sense into these people, but it isn't. Sigh. So much for more primal impulses. We have a middle school that up until last year would NOT allow you to come in. They did NOT want volunteers except three days a year and they refused to supervise the hallways at all. My daughter developed early and we were told that the "solution" to the boys trying to stick hands under her clothing (even getting 2 friends to grab and hold her while a 3rd did this) was for her to wear baggier clothing. I showed up with a note from one of her teachers for a meeting one day and was told I had to leave or the school cop (actual city cop assigned there) would ARREST ME. What was my sin? I walked into the office and said "Hi1 I am here to see Mrs. X. Here is the note she sent. Where is the sign in sheet?" Gee, in elem school and high school that is a GOOD thing. Of course this particular batch of idiots also sent a fax that is now framed on the wall of J's neuro's private office. He faxed in a note excusing her because she had a migraine for 7 days straight (the whole shebang incl vomiting which is an automatic no school for 24 hrs according to the district). They sent this LOVELY fax telling his office that they were not really a dr office and they were just friends of mine inventing excuses for her truancy. Then they sent a truant officer to the house. Who she almost barfed on because he tried to drag her out of the bathroom. Then he wanted a drug test because no kid can vomit with-o being on drugs, don'tcha know. Yeah. That didn't happen. At. All. And he never came back after I called the school superintendent and the neuro called the school, chewed them out and sent them a consultation bill for about $400. School tried to say that I owed that $$ and the doctor said NO, the school questioned him and they could either pay for the tongue lashing or they could have him call every paper and wire service that exists, and wouldn't that be just great, esp if the internet got a hold of it.
We pulled her out to homeschool two weeks later because they told us she had to repeat the year because she had too many missed days before the IEP evaluation was done. I could have fought. I even have a letter saying they HAD to do anything I wanted or I would be able to sue and they would not contest or argue based on how this same middle school treated Wiz. But I did NOT want her to have to deal with it all - she had been through enough already. Oh, and the crutches the ortho doctor said she needed were ruled a "nuisance" and they tried to say she couldn't bring them to school. When her knee was messed up because she got hit by a car walking up to the bus at 6 am.
I was TERRIFIED when thank you was going into this year because it is the same school. but it isn't. They are responsive, responsible, and they WANT parents involved. Plus they actually bother to supervise the kids. The lunchroom, which I had seen because the secretary sent me there to talk to the principal, was previously supervised by said principal who was sitting on the stage WITH A MICROPHONE TURNED ON telling dirty jokes to a student teacher who was observing. She was HORRIFIED and he didn't hear his voice booming through the room. Not one joke. I heard three before he saw me. If it had been a movie it would have been funny. But my KID was there.
WHY do schools attract these fools?