I have a question for ya and will need to go into some detail first.
A friend of mind has a child who is 10, in fifth grade and is ADHD.
She was having all kinds of problems with the school.  Threats to
put the child in a full time special ed and so forth.  They finally
got this resolved when his teacher finally found a method that works
with him.  The child has been taking Ritalin and takes one in the morning
and then was getting it at school at 11 before lunch.  The doctor said
this was too soon and wanted him to have it after lunch.  He sent a note
to the principal.  The principal in turn, made Robbie (the childs name)
take lunch with the 3rd graders, which meant he was still getting his
med at the same time, but after lunch per doctors instructions.  BTW
the doctor assumed his lunch time would not be changed and therefore
only wrote the note stating after lunch.  On top of it all the principal
has Robbie secluded away from the other students and has the lunch aid
make sure Robbie eats everthing.  Kinda like prison I would say.  Anyway,
the principal gave Robbie's mother all kinds of excuses such as the
new school law states that is the way it should be or things like he has
13 kids on Ritalin, things like that.  So he won't let Robbie back in
his old lunch time so he can have his meds after lunch.  I am presuming
that it is also because the doctor wants Robbie to eat better and also
because the Ritalin is given 3 hours after the first dose.  She tried
to combat the problem by having Robbie come home for lunch, but the
principal is fighting her tooth and nail over this and states that
in Robbie's case he is not allowed to go home for lunch.  To me it sounds
like a discrimination case.  She has been threatened that he could put
Robbie in a permanet special ed class (full time if she does not cooperate)
and that he knows better than her because he is a professional and so on
and so forth.  This principal is really giving her grief----from one
end to another.  I think she needs to get an advocate to make sure Robbie
gets proper treatment or insist he be removed from that school into another
one in the city.
I was there last nite for quite a few hours.  Robbie does not take the meds
usually on the week end, but she made him take it yesterday because she
noticed he seemed to need it.  He was really quite good.  He is doing a
latch rug and loved it.  After we left for a bit and came back she told
me Robbie thought I would make a good Psychologist.  He thought I knew
alot.  We talk about it and do it in front of the kids.  I won't say
anything that I feel my kids could not hear.  Robbie also told me about
something that happend years ago.  Being molested.  Something his mother
said he has never told anyone about before.  Robbie and my son Jeremy
even got along.  Ususally they do not, but yester they were real good
together.  Of course, Robbie like my older son Jonathon alot and he
hated the fact the Jeremy is too much likes him so they usually have
probs together.  I think the medication helped Robbie cope with it and
they got along fine.  We were there late and Robbie's meds began to wear
off.  Robbie and his older brother got into it big time (physical fight).
Robbie was sent to his room to cool off.  Later when his mother told him
he could come out he said no, cause he wanted to punch his brother really
bad still.  Of course, I think he was really embarrased. BTW, Robbie's
brother is really passive.  Jeremy likes him alot and when the fight
broke out I had to jump up and back Jeremy off as he felt the other boy
mite need his help.  I saw that gleem in Jeremy's eyes.  I also believe
that ADHD children who are very aggressive like passive friends.  Which
is another reason Jeremy likes Robbie's brother and Robbie likes Jonathon.
The point I am making is the Ritalin worked for quite a while and I don't
see the point that the principal thought Robbie should have it sooner than
the doctor implied he should have it. I wanted to tell you what I saw while
he was on Ritalin so you could understand that this is what his mother says
he is like all the time on Ritilin.  He was pretty good.  Also his teacher
said she is not having any real probs with him and says Robbie is quite
intelligent.  So it seems everyone, but the principal is on Robbie's side.
In the past Robbie has also "accidentally" been locked up in the principal's
office.  He also told her if she does not comply with the way he is
handling things she is breaking the state law and he will have to report it.
She is not doing anything.  Her only beef is that Robbie be treated like
any other student except given his meds at the proper time.  But the 
rincipal
seems to take everything and make a big issue of it.  Like the fact that he
doesn't want to give Robbie's meds after his normal lunch, so he changes the
time he has lunch.
Do you think maybe she should write her wishes along with another doctor's
note (being more specific and med time) and have it deliveried receipt
requested and if not complied with call an advocate? Go over his head to
the superindent (which by the way I believe pays more attention to the
principal than her, as far the the past seems to indicate)?  Or just get
another's doctors note indicating specific time for dispensing meds?
The problem here is that if she resolves this one there is always another
problem that follows almost immediately.  I think the principal is really
discriminating against this child being ADHD.  That he is trying to control
the childs every move.  I know he has caused some probs in school.  Like
getting into a fight or doing something stupid like throw a snowball at
another kid.  Most of these actions are ones that are just plain stupid
choices in which he means no harm but it causes it anyway.  Another words
he does not understand cause and effect of his actions. I don't feel the
school is in compliance to the Disability Act.  Give me a few hints and
I will pass them on to her.
Thanks
Regina
... ARRRRRGGGHHH!!!! ... Tension breaker, had to be done.
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