The parent wanted a second opinion and had come to the university where I was studying for additional testing. I hadn’t even finished the second assessment course in my school psychology program.  I still was in my practicum.  This was my first “real” case.  I didn’t know anything. 

As I went through the other assessments and background history of the client, it struck me as ridiculous that I was going to be providing the second opinion.  I didn’t have an opinion.  The reports provided were thorough and appropriate and done by actual licensed school psychologists who had assessed more than one student. But the parent wanted a second opinion.

So, I tested the student.

I wrote my first psychological report.

I presented the information (with A LOT of help from my professor) that was the same as what had been shared in previous evaluations.

I felt like a fraud.

And, the parent accepted the results.

I think that I felt like an impostor for the first few years of my career.  I was continually surprised when parents readily agreed with assessment results.  I actually felt relieved when test results were questioned, and signatures were delayed. However, I learned quickly that I needed to keep these beliefs to myself. For some reason, there was and is an expectation among educators that parents should be able to process, understand, accept, and authorize educational results and interventions, or the IEP,  in one sitting.  And while most parents will sign IEPs after one meeting, I worry that this is done out of the tendency to be compliant rather than actual informed consent.  Furthermore, because agreement is the norm, questions about the IEP and delays in consent can be misinterpreted as adversarial or overt dissent rather than an attempt to comprehend, learn, and support.  This attitude of educators needs to change.

Questions are good.  They lead to new solutions.

Not signing a legal document (the IEP) at first glance is responsible.

“The key to wisdom is this – constant and frequent questioning, for by doubting we are led to question, by questioning we arrive at the truth.”  Peter Abelard