17 yrs. Grade 12

Secondary School

My child was always anxious, but after being mauled by a dog in 4th grade, he developed school refusal. I was allowed to accompany him into the school and to let him get comfortable and then leave. This worked, and things were getting better, but other kids started teasing him. A teacher (not his own) began to make fun of him and tell him to “man up”. Then neither of us could handle such an unsupportive environment. We moved him to a smaller school for kids with learning differences for that year and the next grade. He entered middle school…

14 yrs. Grade 9

Secondary School

My son’s kindergarten teacher would call me and tell me he would not sit on the sitting mat and for that he was disciplined. He has never sat still and when he and I study for tests, he is either jumping on the trampoline while I explain things to him and he asks questions, or he has a hockey stick in his hands and is stick-handling while I teach. I know he can’t do that in a classroom, but he cannot focus while sitting at a desk all day long listening to lectures and doing questions out of books. What…

14 yrs. Grade 10

Secondary School

It begins slowly in the beginning. They wake up and groan groggily that: * they didn’t sleep well, tummy ache, headache (*insert any imaginable reason for not going to school). Then it begins to appear to become a “habit” and you explain they have to go to school. “It’s the law!”… (because you think they’re making excuses, because they’re simply tired and don’t want to go). You feel you have to push them to go (which causes more angst). You feel it’s your duty as a parent to get your child to school, even when it hurts them. And they…

17 yrs. Grade 12

Secondary School

My son’s struggles began very early in his education. Preschool days were hard….He would try to run away from class to come home. He just didn’t want to be there from the start. Every day was a struggle. He didn’t learn well from a young age, and I pointed that out to the school team, but they ignored my pleas for extra help till it was too late. My oldest child was diagnosed with dyslexia and my youngest had the same learning difficulties, but the school passed it off as laziness. Then, in second grade, they finally agreed that he…

15 yrs. Grade 10

Secondary School

My daughter started refusing to go to school in grade 2. By grade 8, she was acting out and getting suspended multiple times a year. Many arguments, meetings, doctor appointments, counselling sessions, CPS visits. In grade 9 (new school), same thing. She is smart, shy, and sassy. She knows what to do to get suspended. She really doesn’t care about school or her education. She hates school! There is one person that she will go to school for. She is the only staff member she likes. If it wasn’t for Patty, she wouldn’t have gone back at all last year.

18 yrs. Grade 12

Secondary School

My daughter started having trouble attending school in grade 7. For months, we worked as hard as we could as parents to try to get her to attend. We felt we were listening to her concerns while also pushing her to go. It wasn’t until months later that we learned not only that her IEP (for an LD that limits written output) was not being followed, but also that she was being humiliated in front of other students for limitations that were part of her diagnosis. It was really disappointing to find this rigidity at an alternative school that claimed…

15 yrs. Grade 10

Secondary School

My daughter was in grade 9 – so already a big transition year for her in starting high school. She was also recently diagnosed with ADHD, LD, and anxiety. When she was overwhelmed, her anxiety would peak. She went on ADHD medication that made her anxiety worse. Once she went off the medication, she had missed so much school and was behind already; she had missed important lessons/quizzes/assignments, and it was tough getting back to routine and catching up. Damage was done, but with the school’s help, she was able to finish the year and get all of her credits…

15 yrs. Grade 9

Secondary School

My child’s anxiety has always been due to bullying or inappropriate behaviour from other kids. She has never felt supported or protected by anyone at the school. She once got punched on the school bus by a boy with fetal alcohol syndrome. When I went to the vice principal about it, the boy was fully protected, and I was told: he’s special needs; she needs to be aware of that and not do anything to get punched. Her entire school career has given her the message that other kids’ poor behaviour towards her must be tolerated because: they are special;…

17 yrs. Grade 12

Secondary School

My daughter was bullied by peers and struggled through classes, but didn’t struggle enough to get much help. Yet in her mind she was failing at everything – friends, school; then she hit rock bottom when her dad and mom were divorced. She became depressed and had migraines and stomach pains – self-harm, suicide, and severe anxiety followed.