My school has a new tier to our special education program this year. The program, which was moved from one elementary school to my school by central administration, services intensive learning support students. Some of the students are blind, deaf, have Down's syndrome, traumatic brain injury, and severe developmental delays. Because of this new program, my school not only has new students, but quite a bit of new staff in the way of teachers, specialists, and aides as well.
I'm not here to complain about the program. My mother worked for over 15 years as a special education aide for children and an adult education aide for adults with special needs. I know how hard she worked to help her students and clients. I know how well she treated those she was put in charge of; like they were members of her own family. She treated them with respect, challenged them to do their best within their capabilities, and always acted in kindness.
Like I said, I am not here to complain about the program in my school. Nor am I here to glorify my mother's work ethic; however, I AM here to state an observation.
I've always wondered how a person who has gone to school to study the field of special education can treat his or her students with disdain. I mean, this person has studied the conditions children are diagnosed with, the developmental expectations for each child, and strategies to help the children succeed as best they can. Why oh why then, do we have staff members who act like it is a chore to do the job in which they've invested so much time and money?
On the playground today I observed an aide using sarcasm with one of his/her students. This child is not as far along developmentally as his/her peers. This is not an excuse, as his/her caregiver/teacher/helper during the day, to have a smart-aleck attitude with the child. I always wonder how an aide would feel if the child were his/her own child and the person who is supposed to be helping the child during the day was treating him/her in an inappropriate and what I consider to be a disrespectful manner.
So the child "may not know/understand what's being said," or "doesn't get it." The fact of the matter is that this child is SOMEONE'S child. A baby that was carried in the womb with expectations from hopeful parents. A child whose parents had to deal with the diagnosis of what to expect. A child whose parents have dealt with (and are more than likely still dealing with) the frustrations, heartache, worries, successes, and triumphs of raising a child with special needs. It shouldn't matter whose child needs specialized care. What should matter is that someone is there to meet the needs of that child without being short-tempered, sarcastic, apathetic, or indifferent.
If treating a child with respect, courtesy, interest, and general good manners is just too hard to do (in special or regular education), then maybe it's time to find a new career. The children and their families deserve better.
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