Does The School Psychologist Know Best?

Some schools, have an Educational Psychologist, they seek advice from. Others may have an in-house School Psychologist, to observe the students. Should your child need to see such a professional for what ever reasons the school sees fit, I wish you think about it first.

At first, when Ivan was placed in a school (for obvious reasons I cannot disclose), he was highlighted to the teachers as a child with autism. A couple of months down the road, I was asked by the school to see an in-house psychologist. Since, I saw no harm, I agreed. The session was done, in my absence, and the result, not very favourable to my son.

A Second Opinion

The result I got didn't sit well with me. I wanted another opinion. And I did just that. I called for an appointment with a private practitioner and had my boy assessed. Normally, they would tell you to wait approximately six months, before you did another test. But I insisted.

The second test, done a week later, showed a big difference. Even the evaluation written were far apart. The school psychologist, could have been affected by the needs of the school, and that could have unknowingly affected his professionalism. I could be worng, but his evalutaion was not very objective to my reading.

The private psychologists, however had no agenda, she had no attachment to my son or to the school he was attending.

Of course, all parents want to hear good things about their children. But be honest, you know your child better. When you read someone's evaluation of your child, you will tend to know if its believable.

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Decisions are hard to make

Making Decisions

I was happy that the second opinion I got, was much more accurate to the boy I know. He was still deemed around below average but, at least there we real strengths in certain areas. I took Ivan out of the school, (by my choice), and had him attend another school.

That was a decision, that took my blood and tears to make. If you talk to my husband, Peter, he will tell you that, I get super emotional, when decisions like these need to be made. Over our many discussion, I would get so emotional that I would scream and shout at him, in the process. But the darling, that he is, he knows that its not personal. I was angry with the situation and not him. He is my rock that is constant and strong for me to lean on. Finally, after days we would have come to a decision, and a decision would be made.

But I would still linger on and second guess our decision. Peter knows that, I worry, as a bad choice would affect Ivan's life more than anything. So, he humours me for about a week more. After that, it's pretty good.

Ivan flourished in the new school, and I was glad that we had made the right decision.