One Special Perspective
Student, Parent, Teacher, Substitute Teacher, Special Education Teacher....... From these different perspectives I have observed the workings and goings on of the school. I look back to my years as a student with interest. I enjoyed school life so much that I decided I wanted to spend my adult life in school. I ran a play school and then I became a parent, first a stay-at-home parent and then a working parent and the day my son began school I hoped his teachers would love him like I did. Once I found my self-assured premature daughter was coping well with her schooling; I decided on resurrecting my career this time as a Special Education Teacher. This experience itself led me to look at the school system, its values and its goals, in a new light, while at the same time understanding the limitations placed upon teachers and administrators.
The initial public reaction was warm when the SCC was setup in 1999. The notion of giving challenged children a reasonable chance to learn in school setting was widely considered a decent, humane alternative to secreting them away at home, or boxing them up in an institution somewhere. Since the advent of mandating special education, however, more attention has been paid to the price tag attached to providing such opportunities.
I realized you can't be a special education teacher if you don't believe in the dignity of human life. If you believe Albert Einstein is more valuable than most other people, then you don't belong in special education. Human dignity is not measured in aptitude; it's measured in humanness. It's treating people with respect and recognizing their value. A school education is more than just the classes you take and the books you read. It’s also the doors you open, the attitudes you develop, and the goals you set. In years to come a child may forget what you taught them; but will always remember how you made them feel.
We often forget that the greatest gift we can give a child is a belief in oneself and one’s own self worth for then all else follows. Have you ever noticed how just the words, "You did a good job" can inspire you to do better and make you feel so good inside? I have seen this happen time and time again, not only in my own life but in the lives of the teachers and children I have worked with. If only we could remember these five little words, the world would be a better place.
We worked with several special needs students ranging from mild to severe some of whom; who we thought would never walk or have any method of communication. Now they are walking all over the place and communicate beautifully. While that case may have been educationally compelling, there are far more cases where students' progress is less measurable, but in which the personal impact is no less poignant. As teachers here at the SCC we are eager to make a difference in children’s lives. There have been many a time where I have reached beyond the walls of my classroom by working with parents, visiting their homes, and going beyond my regular line of duties to fulfill my aspirations as a teacher.
Then again what is being a teacher all about, an anecdote I came across described it as so,
“Once there was a man named Arun. He wanted very much to be a teacher. So he went to seek the advice of the wisest, most highly respected counselor in the land. "Wise counselor," Arun began, It has always been my dream to be a teacher. I want to stimulate the minds of the young people of our land. I want to lead them down the road of knowledge. Please tell me the secret of becoming a teacher."
"Your goal is a commendable one, Arun. However, it is also a very difficult one to achieve. First you must overcome three major obstacles." "I am ready to meet the challenge," answered Arun bravely.
"First you must swim the Sea of Children," directed the knowing counselor. Arun started off to swim the Sea of Children. First he had to learn their 38 names. He had to send the line cutters to the end of the line. He made the paper throwers stay after school to clean the room. He commanded the name callers, pushers, and punchers to apologize to their victims. He gave M&M's to those who finished assignments and stars to those who were sitting in their seats quietly. Arun checked passes to see how many children were in the bathroom. And he tracked down students who were gone longer than was necessary. He arranged the desks in alphabetical order, then boy-girl, boy-girl, and finally into small groups of four. He lined his children up for physical education and music and library and lunch. Then he stifled a cry when the secretary came into the room with number 39. Tired and shaken but still undefeated, Arun returned to the counselor for his second task.
"You are a very determined lad," said the advisor. "However, now you must climb the Mountain of Paperwork." Arun set out at once. He wrote objectives and drew up lesson plans. He made out report cards and graded papers. He filled out accident reports, attendance reports and withdrawal reports. He completed inventories, evaluations, surveys, and request forms. Finally, he made dittos and more dittos. He ran them off until he was purple in the face. But the courageous boy's resolve never dwindled. He went to the wise counselor for his third task.
"You are indeed very strong, Arun. But this third task will take all the courage you can muster. You must now cross the country of Duties and Committees." At first Arun was hesitant. But his convictions remained steadfast. He began his long journey across the country of Duties and Committees. Arun took lunch duty, bus duty, and recess duty. He was on the social committee, patrol committee, and the faculty advisory committee. He was the adult supervisor of the student government and ran the United Funds and Drives. He went to PTA meetings, School Site meetings, and in-service workshops. He organized bicentennial programs, talent shows, and book drives. Finally, he was elected the building representative of the union. At last Arun reached the outskirts of Duties and Committees. Exhausted but happy, he returned to the knowledgeable counselor.
"I swam the Sea of Children. I climbed the Mountain of Paperwork. I crossed the country of Duties and Committees," Arun proclaimed. "Am I not worthy of the title of Teacher?"
"Why, Arun," began the counselor, "you have been a teacher all along?"
Arun protested, "But I have not stimulated any minds. I have not guided anyone down the road to knowledge; I have not had any time to teach" "Oh, you say you want to TEACH! I thought you said you wanted to be a teacher. That is a completely different story!!”
I guess I'm really sappy, but at some level I'd made a connection with the kids, even it was only that I made them feel a little more likable. For teachers, if you can even see just one spark in a kid's life, that's all it takes to make all the difference in the world.
Joji
