Activity 1.2

Johnny

1.) What should the parents do? Explain why.

• Johnny's parents need to definitely attend the meeting with Miss Jones and his other teachers. Based on Johnny's behavior, academic performance, and the way that her responded to his parents confronting him, it is obvious that Johnny is disturbed by something. 
• One of the things that stuck out to me the most is that Miss Jones waited until the end of the term to notify Johnny's parents about his behavior. If Johnny had been performing poorly all of this time, his parents should have been notified sooner.
• The parents should seek out professional help for Johnny. This would possibly give Johnny a place to express what he is feeling and what needs he have that are not being met. This could also help the parents understand what is going on with their son in hopes that they will be able to help him get through it.

2.) What should Miss Jones do? Explain Why.

•  I think it is good that Miss Jones has suggested a meeting, although it should have been done earlier. Concerns about a troubled child should never be held off for this long.
• Miss Jones should not only talk to the parents, but also Johnny, in order to assess what type of environment Johnny is surrounded by. This also includes understanding why Johnny has been in five different schools in such a short period of time. This would be important for explaining the issues Johnny are facing in regard to being in a new place yet again.
• Miss Jones should also discuss the inconsistencies in Johnny's performance and behaviors. For example, he started off as a delightful student, who was motivated and on track, but his behavior and academic performance took a drastic turn. So it would be important to try and account for what was occurring during this transformation.
• Furthermore, there is definitely something to be said about Johnny being a pleasant student and excelling in art class, but any of his other classes.  This is another inconsistency that Miss Jones should try to make sense of with Johnny and his parents. 
• Lastly, Miss Jones should look into referring Johnny to the school counselor. The counselor may be able to get through to Johnny in ways Miss Jones or his parents cannot. Then the counselor could advise Johnny’s teachers and parents on how to engage Johnny appropriately.

3.) What is a likely explanation for Johnny’s new problems?

• It seems as if Johnny is having issues with adjusting.
•  As far as schools, nothing has been consistent for Johnny because he is only in the 6th grade and he has attended five different schools since the kindergarten.
• Johnny has been forced to settle with several new surroundings at an early age, but he has not had the ability to be comfortable in or adjust to one surrounding long enough to know how to it feels to be secure.
•  Elementary school is typically a time where a person gets used to learning from the same teachers and seeing the same friends, and Johnny never really had that. Therefore, it is possible that Johnny is lashing out and being distant from others because he believes that he will eventually  have to leave any friends he make anyway, so why bother making any at all. This belief also influenced his school performance and behavior because he does not how to deal with his feelings in a healthy way.
• Also, in regard to him doing so well in art, it is possible that Johnny sees art class as an outlet of expressing himself. So it is likely that art is of interest to him and holds his attention a lot better than other classes that he is currently taking.

Monty

How should the owners respond?

• The owners have to make a decision of what to do with Monty, not only for the purposes of Monty's health, but also the family's safety.
• Considering that Monty is gradually falling into a debilitated state of living, the owners could choose to give Monty away, put him to sleep, or keep him until he becomes too bad off and they can no longer handle him.
•  Based on Monty's actions, it would seem safer for Monty to just leave the home. He is not as active as he once was and he has become dangerous in that he has been snapping on individuals. The family cannot enjoy his company like they once did and it is not safe for them to be around Monty.
• The most important thing to do while the owners are in the process of deciding what to do with Monty is to have a discussion with their children about the potential outcomes of the situation. Monty has been the family pet since he was a puppy, and it is highly likely the Monty time is coming to an end. Therefore, it would be important for the owners to prepare their children for the possibility of Monty going away, whether he leaves through death or has to be taken away.
• In making their decisions and also talking to their children, the owners need to consider the amount of pain that Monty is experiencing as well. This would be an important aspect to use when explaining to the children why Monty has been acting different than usual.
• In whatever the owners decide, they should seek out advice from appropriate parties (e.g. the veterinarian, other dog owners) before making their decisions.  The owners should make sure to respond to this situation with care, taking into consideration all of the important factors relevant to the situation (e.g. the family’s safety, Monty’s health results. Monty’s behavior, the emotional toll of the family, etc.)