I always tell my para-educators that when they are confronted by people who do not take them at their word, to tell them “the teacher said no” or “go tell/ask the teacher.” That usually seals the deal!!!
We are fortunate to have a back patio where we can let our students out to play, walk around in their pacers, and roll around in their dynamic standers. My students love the independence, fresh air, and the opportunity to play. Often times we are out there with them, and when we are not, they are very well monitored. This patio area is connected to the preschool playground and separated by a chain link fence. What this means is that when my students are outside, they have the opportunity to interact with the preschoolers when they are outside. Now, keep in mind, this interaction is through the fence, since I have our gate closed and locked where my students cannot access the preschool playground unless we open the gate.
On this particular day, when our students were let outside to play, there were no preschoolers on their playground. Our students were having a great time, enjoying the sunshine, the warm weather, and the toys. About fifteen minutes into our students outside time, preschool came out for recess. As always, curious preschoolers came to the fence to interact with my students. Depending on who is outside, we interact with the preschoolers, satisfy their curiosity, and enjoy their interaction with our students. If we are not the ones interacting, the preschool teachers are. Since preschool has come to Prairie, I never had a preschool teacher that had a problem with this until now.
It was toileting time, so we were bringing students in to place them on the potty. As I stated earlier, the preschoolers had come out to recess, and as usual, some gathered at the fence to say hi. After saying hi, I had come in with one of my students when Mary had gone out to get one of hers. As she was presenting the picture schedule to her student to bring him in for toileting, the preschool teacher came up to the fence to talk to Mary. Here was the sum total of their conversation!
Preschool teacher, “I don’t think it is a good idea for your students to be outside. Why are they out here anyhow? My concern is that your students can hurt my students when they come to the fence. I have over thirty preschoolers to keep an eye on and I cannot supervise them all (she is not alone). Your students should not be out here. It is not safe for my students. Your students need to be inside. Why are they outside anyhow?” Mary did a good job at responding to the preschool teacher’s questions and concerns. But at no point was Mary backing down from keeping our students inside just because the preschool teacher felt that they should be. According to Mary, the more adamant she was, the more agitated the preschool teacher became. It became clear to Mary that this preschool teacher was not hearing anything she had to say. So, Mary did exactly what I have encouraged over the years.
Mary, “well, you can tell our teacher, but she is going to say no too, but you are more than welcomed to go talk to her about it!” The preschool teacher’s response… I’ll let you know when she does!