It didn't have to be that way.

I'm a little fired up because of a conference I've had today with a parent. Picture this, a child is placed repeatedly in a care facility for behavior problems. So much he ends up being 16 years of age when he is released. This is to old to be in middle school so he is put in high school. Then he is sent to an alternative school for not going to school ( who would want to got to a school where everything was over your head). When problems continue, the parent finally comes to the school to find out what is wrong. What is wrong? Must be the teacher or the principal right? Of course right, in her eyes because she "believes" what her child tells her happens in the school she has never been in. 45 minutes is wasted in a discussion with an outcome that has already been decided on by the parent. Opps, I forgot to give you some details about the child and parent. The child doesn't live with the mother but 4 years ago lived with the grandmother who died of cancer. Now he lives with the dad most of the time. Most. Of course there are 5 brothers and sisters. Who do they live with? Not mom, not dad. Mom and dad are not married but three of the 5 are theirs together. (I know what causes dem babies.) Dad does work and works two jobs. DID THIS HAVE TO HAPPEN?!?!? Absolutely NOT. Mom and dad could have shown some restraint when the battle of hormones was taking place. Mom and dad could have spent more time with the kid when he needed them growing up, instead of wherever they were. They could spend more time with him now. They could have prevented him from being around the people that gave him the "dope", grass, weed that got him sent to the alternative school in the 5th grade. DID THIS HAVE TO HAPPEN???? NO! What can I do about it? Very little.