Hi its Robyns mom and I apologize for the long delay in continueing
her story. As I was saying Robyn started to learn at about the age
of 7yrs. and was in a self contained class room until the age of
11yrs. by the time she was this age she could do her younger
brothers school work who was in the fourth grade. She was very far
behind her age appropriate grade. We had our regular IEP meetings
and at the next scheduled meeting I dropped the bomb that Robyn was
ready and I wanted her put in the regular 4th grade class. Every
teacher objected strenuously and even suggested they could take me
to court if I didn't put her in her age appropriate class. I told
them I was not going to set my daughter up to fail and she would at
that level. I wanted her put in the class she could be successful in
and that was fourth grade. I told them I was not concerned with her
social skills as she was a very outgoing and lovable girl that got
along with any age group. I was concerned about her getting into
college someday. They all put up letters of objection but I got my
way. Robyn was small for her age and very cute and her brother had
started in young fives and was 18mnths her junior so they were in
the same grade. Not one of the children ever questioned Robyns age.
The only difference it made all the time she was in school was she
was the most popular kid in 8th grade when she got her drivers
liscence. I did ask for her to get special help with math as she
still struggled with that but I was told she didn't qualify. I might
have left out that at that IEP I was told by all the experts that I
was making a big mistake taking her out of the special ed class room
and that she needed to stay in the self contained class. I took
charge of my daughters education and I strongly suggest all parents
do the same. You know your child better than anybody. I believe if I
had listened my daughter would not be the successful college
graduate teaching special education children in Florida now. I will
write more later. God Bless Pattie [Robyn's mom}