Does your school or district have a union rep? You can
not do your job without supplies. That is the
district's responsibility. Call your union rep.
Whether or not you are a member, they should help you.
I always have my students fill out a personal
information sheet the first day, and ask for a cel
phone, daytime contact, parent's work phone, I give
several lines for phone contact. Often the parents
haven't updated the phone number on the school
enrollment form in years, don't put it on on purpose,
etc., but the kids will often write one down. Still
doesn't always help.
I have talked to my school counselor about the "I
havent taken my meds" kids - she deals with the
parents on that one for us. If they are supposed to be
on meds and are not getting them, she has some
leverage. I can't believe the parents who talk about
how their kid can't control their behavior if they
don't have their meds/sleep/too much sugar/etc. right
in front of the kids, teaching them that crutch.
