As in some other blogs, I am prefacing this by stating that if you are a social worker or any other professional who is easily offended, turn back now.
I have had some very interesting conversations this week. First of all, I was supposed to have an IEP for one of my children. However, the school obviously didn't know the rights of a parent of a special education student (although, they hand out Sp. Ed. Rights to parents at each meeting). They didn't know that the rights afforded to me were in the Alabama Code. So needless to say, no IEP.
Alabama Administrative Code § 290-8-9-.05(3)(b)
“Not less than one regular education teacher of the child if the child is, or may be participating in the regular education environment. The regular education teacher must, to the extent appropriate, participate in the development, review, and revision of the child’s IEP, including assisting in the determination of appropriate positive behavioral interventions and supports and other strategies for the child and the determination of supplementary aids and services, program modifications, and supports for school personnel.”
“a member of the IEP Team, as listed in (3)(b) through (e) above, may be excused from attending an IEP Team meeting, in whole or in part, when the meeting involves a modification to or discussion of the member's area of the curriculum or related services, if the parent, in writing, and the public agency consent to the excusal; and the member submits, in writing to the parent and the IEP Team, input into the development of the IEP prior to obtaining consent from the parent for the excusal of the required IEP Team member.”
Ala. Admin. Code § 290-8-9-.05(4)(b).
Had I had the personality of a sweet, calm, easy-going woman, my life would be so much easier. I see parents all the time who just have that "oh, it will be alright" attitude. Some days I wish that were me. But it's not, and so it is. I am once again the pain in the butt parent (Kristin - I know you know what I mean) who isn't satisfied. Please God, start putting smarter people in my path, LOL. I am going to have PTSD by the time I get my kids graduate from the public school system.
But lets move on. I actually had a conversation this week with a lovely woman who is in a position to make a difference in the life of another. But I can tell you now; she wont. Not because she doesnt care or she isnt concerned, but because it isnt enough to MOVE her. There are some like that. Lets always be moved to help our clients.
I just want to say that in the field of social work, or any field that involves working with other humans, we are going to come across stupid people ( I use that term loosely - rude, lazy, ignorant could all fit the bill). It will take effort to MOVE. My greatest weakness and greatest strength is one in the same. I am either hot or cold. I either am not concerned or I am intensely passionate on an issue. I am learning that lukewarm works well in some situations.
For those of you who have actually read this blog in its entirety - Thanks!! But I do have another question that I would love to have your feedback on.
"Do you think that a social worker can be accepting of a belief(s) professionally and that believe be something they disagree with on a personal level? Are they one in the same or can they be kept seperate. Let me know your thoughts."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
12 comments:
To answer your question, I believe we must be able to seperate our personal beliefs from our professional responsibilities to be effective (is this an example, since it is my belief and it also fits within our Code of Ethics). I'm sure we will come across many people that we will personally have a difference of opinion with, however, it is our duty to help them come to their own conclusion within their own standard of maorality, etc. If their personal views happen to coincide with ours, great, it's a bonus, but that will probably be rare.
As difficult as it maybe sometimes, we are to deal with "stupid" people too.
FIRST of all, I think it is great that you are a "pain-in-the butt" parent. It is sad but it seems that you have to be a pain before anyone takes action. I too have to deal with stupid and lazy people and find it highly annoying but like you, I have realized that sometimes it pays to be lukewarm so that you can save your sanity!!!
As to your question; I think it is possible and necessary. 'All human beings have intrinsic worth and value' which means that even though you may personally disagree with how someone lives their life, you still have to treat them with dignity. I have people in my group therapy that set treatment goals and many of their goals are goals that I would not see as beneficial. But I am there to work with them to get what they need and want from treatment; not to impose my beliefs on them. It is hard to do sometimes but it is possible and necessary.
Back to the stupid thing; I was glad that you included lazy in your definition. Sometimes I think people are often not stupid but just lazy. Too often people are allowed to get away with doing just enough to get by in their job and so they continue this pattern of laziness. That's why I think it is great that you are a pain-in-the butt parent. You are not letting anyone get away with doing just enough. I also see you going the extra mile and when you are that type of person you expect the same from others and feel annoyed when that does not happen.
I believe that as a matter of fact I remember a man that was a professional acquaintance saying "I am very tolerant of other people in my professional life but very judgemental in my personal life" that is me to a large extent. I am always irritated by other people who aren't doing or behaving the way I believe is correct but professionally I am very accepting.
First and for most I LOVED YOUR BLOG... Being an individual with a disablity myself I know all about IEP meetings and how many parents just don't care enough to put forth the extra effort. My mother did and that is why I am her in school today. The other children either dropped out or never went to college. So be proud to be a kick butt mom your children are always worth it. It is sad that it todays society that more people are not aware of the ADA (American's with Disabilties Act) and can't provide the basic accomidations in schools and work. I can understand why the unemployment rate is so high for individuals with disabilities because the majority of empoyers do not provide the basic accomidations. I do feel that as a social worker we can provide some division between personal and professional beliefs but it is never easy and when the beliefs interfier with our reliougious beliefs it is even harder. I respect somebodys personal beliefs but when it affects my own that is when it crosses the line.
IEP meetings...how fun are they?? I hate so much how there are standards for special education and yet it seems that no one upholds them. As for stupid people, I completely agree with you - we all have such limited time that we don't need it to be wasted with stupid/lazy/arrogant people. That being said, as social workers I think we all have to work to be more patient and tolerant of others. For your question, I think it is possible in theory but hard to carry out in actuality.
I do believe that it is possible to separate our personal beliefs from our professional responsibilities. I will not dare say it is easy but it is something that must be practice daily to be effective. I have learned since participating in this class that my personal feelings, attitudes and beliefs need to stay at the door. Once I enter into a professional domain, then I need to be open-minded, optimistic and definitely not lethargic. It is hard some days to encourage people to take paths that you do not personally believe in but that is our role. By the way, your humor is appreciated, unfortunately you will never be spared the wrath of stupid people, because my dear they are everywhere. Some are even hiding amongst us good folks.....
Good blog and the tattoo doesn't work - you have now jinxed yourself to work with stupid people.
We are obligated by our professional standards to put personal beliefs aside and follow our Code of Ethics - CAVEAT - it takes practice = it isn't easy - and you must be informed before you can do it well.
Personal example: abortion. I couldn't do it, I believe felt them the moment the egg and sperm sparked life. Maybe it was something else I felt, but I wanted them, loved them, cherished them from the beginning and I believed they were meant to be here.
That is my belief...it's not religious dogma, it's very personal. However, i must and do support women's rights to have control over their own bodies - reproductive rights included. I have met with many women who have abortion in their history, some affected by it, others not so much. My duty is to provide the best services I can dependent upon my role in their life. If I judged them by the standards of my personal beliefs, I would do harm, so I shut that part away and do my job. It's not about abortion, it never really was - it's about their journey and how I can help them journey on, instead of falling by the wayside or never moving forward. It is a conscious shutting - so practiced that I don't even notice when I do it. I have a list of things I shut away in a private place when working. My beliefs on pedophilia is another one - I still have to provide the best services I can to persons suffering from pedophilia, like it or not. Elder abuse is another - I have a hard time with people who hurt others - it's my thing. It is our professional obligation to put our beliefs aside - our duty.
If you can't do it now - work on it. It does take practice.
To begin with, I wouldn't call you a "pain in the butt parent", but instead a concerned, active parent. I wish all parents took an interest in their children and their children's rights like you seem to.
Regarding the stupid people thing: I think there are less stupid people and more lazy people in this world. I don't think it is that they are stupid and have no idea how to do things, I think that it is more they are lazy and selffish and feel like if it is not happening to them then it is not happening, whether it is their job and responsibility or not. Sad but I'm afraid it's true.
Now, as an answer to your question, I think that as a social worker, it is vital to be accepting of someone else's beliefs in the professional setting, even if we do not share that belief. As social workers, we are not there to agree or disagree with our clients personal beliefs, but to help them with whatever we can.
I am sorry you had to have an unprofessional experience. I commend you on taking the time out and reading your rights as a parent. Most parents do not know their right because they do not read. That teacher must have thought that you wouldn't take the time to read and know your right, which was why she didn't attend the IEP. But to answer your question, I agree with marjorie, as a social worker you must seperate your own personal beliefs in ways to not force them upon clients. I feel that in a sense you can agree and disagree at the same time but be unbiased at the same time.
"Stupid" people bother me too, but it is part of our job to deal with them in a respectful manner. I defenitely believe that we will have some personal beliefs that conflict with our professional beliefs. You may feel strongly about a certain type of person yet you still have to work with them. It's all part of the job.
I never thought I wanted a tattoo, but maybe if my forehead read “I hate stupid people”, I would be spared so much trouble
Accepting beliefs professionally and keeping beliefs separate is something that can be learned from within without seeing external visualizations. However, beliefs are typically learned through external visualizations or through surrounding experiential influences of others with parent/caregiver/community roles. Accepting other beliefs is something that can affect a person both personally and professionally, yet a person can keep them separate. Becoming more liberated as an individual and looking at culture as opposed to color scares the hell out of some people in the South; however, respecting certain aspects of certain beliefs without accepting the whole belief is still respectful. Not only is it utilized; however, it shows personal growth and development as enriching one’s effectiveness not just as a potential future social worker, but as a human being as one becomes more aware of the effects of humanity and the magnitude of respect of humanity and of mankind.
Learning different aspects of another culture or belief is one of Buddhist Psychology by replacing negative thoughts with positive thoughts, which is similar to psychoanalysis or behavioral cognitive therapy. In that one learns to recondition their behavior or as in the Bible the terminology is renewing the mind daily. Looking at the whole person and respecting and learning from many different cultures while accepting and not judging. Not to mention, the comparison of the Church of Scientology with persons raised Baptist who also do not believe in taking medication unless life or death or needed without crying. A belief comes to mind that “laughter is like medicine” is very beneficial to the healthy, the sick and dying, and all ages. It seems to change the mood as different alternative forms of therapy of music and movies are a part of the art of social work as the arts engage people’s lives, souls, and spirits with real life events through song, theatre, and writings that affect the soul and help with the healing of the whole person especially one who has an IEP or an Individualized Educational Plan including those who attend. As well as play therapy and as music therapies have been incorporated for the smart and not the stupid.
The whole person approach is also incorporated in the wrap around services that are of an engaging matter that stems from different state codes regarding the Individualized Educational Plan.
Engaging with persons of many different cultures and beliefs one must develop skill and look for the smartness in a person and not the academic defaults of a person.
Post a Comment