"I'm not just fighting for my daughter. I'm fighting for all students that go to school and come home knowing nothing."
 |
Problem Child, Single Parent by Sandra Williams Brassell Trafford Publishing
book review by Lori Lucero
This memoir details the author's harrowing fight to get her daughter a quality education. Brassell's daughter, Marvinia, was diagnosed with ADHD and later with Bipolar Mood Disorder. Medication and counseling did little to change her behavior, which included stealing, lying, fighting, and sneaking out of the house. The Detroit Public Schools tested her in first grade and placed her in a classroom for emotionally impaired students. Things deteriorated when Marvinia began junior high, where she faced a bigger class (i.e. thirteen students when there should have been eight), violent classmates, and the lack of a certified teacher and appropriate instructional materials.
Brassell attributes her daughter's negative educational experience to several factors, including corruption in the Detroit schools, racism, and the school's failure to follow laws regarding special education students.
Although the book contains stylistic errors and might be better focused and chronologically ordered, Brassell's love for her daughter shines through. Her frustration with the system makes for a raw, compelling story. It also brings to mind some questions. What should parents do when they've tried everything and their child continues to act out? How can schools prevent behaviorally disordered students from slipping through the cracks? This story underscores the need for early intervention and better support for students with emotional/behavioral difficulties. It also highlights the need for more support for parents of such children. Too often parents get blamed for their child's difficulties, when what they need is help.