NEW STUDENT

WE WERE INFORMED TODAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE GETTING A NEW STUDENT IN A FEW WEEKS. AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, I WORK IN AN AUTISTIC BEHOVIOR UNIT. THIS MEANS THAT I WORK ONE ON ONE WITH STUDENTS THAT HAVE SERIOUS BEHAVIOR ISSUES. THE STUDENT THAT IS COMING TO OUR CLASS IS VERY LARGE, 200 LBS MALE THAT IS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 11 AND 12, AND IS VERY AGGRESSIVE. NOT ONLY IS HE AGGRESSIVE, BUT VIOLENT AND IF YOU SHOW ANY FEAR, HE WILL USE THAT TO HIS ADVANTAGE. WE WERE BRIEFED TODAY AS HOW NOT TO SHOW FEAR, AND WE NEED TO BE JUST DOWN RIGHT TOUGH WITH HIM. HE IS ALSO HIGH FUNCTIONING. THIS MEANS THAT HE IS SMART. OH THE JOY. TO TOP IT OFF WE ARE LOSING ONE OF OUR BEST STUDENTS. HE WILL BE MOVED TO ANOTHER CLASS TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE NEW KID. I REALLY LOVE MY JOB BUT I HAVE LIMITS. I JUST HOPE AND PRAY THAT MY TEAM IS THERE FOR EACHOTHER. IT WILL TAKE ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO BE ONE UP ON THIS GUY. I AM NOT A HAPPY CAMPER RIGHT NOW. I AM HOPING THAT IT IS JUST HIS TEACHERS THAT THINK HE IS TROUBLE. THAT IS WHAT HAPPEND WITH OUR LAST NEW KID. YES HE IS A BITER, SCRATCHER, KICKER, AND PINCHER, BUT IT WAS NO WHERE NEAR HOW BAD HIS FIRST TEACHER MADE HIM OUT TO BE. MAYBE IT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD TRAINING IN BEHAVIOR ISSUSES AND HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM. OR THAT WE HAVE MORE PATIENCES WITH THE KIDS, OR MAYBE IT IS THAT WE HAVE THE STAFF AND RESOURCES TO DEAL WITH THESE STUDENTS. WHATEVER IT IS I HOPE THAT IT WILL WORK FOR THIS GUY TOO.