It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp Teacher
I was going to make this Friday's post a happy go lucky, Easter free for all. But then I saw this post which attacked my post about shock treatment in schools. Naturally, I got angry. Call me crazy, but I always get angry when people write about me like they know me, especially without coming to me first. I know, it happens to every blogger from time to time. Still, I don't know if I should feel flattered or feel sick.
For starters, I open this question to you. Whether you're an educator or not, which do you think is easier to teach, special ed or regular ed? I'm making this question as open-ended as possible. I might expand upon it in the future.
I decided to additionally post my response to said blogger here, mainly because I needed to blow off some steam. The following is the rebuttal of sorts that I posted on the writer's site. Feel free to add your own two cents to either post:
I always love it when I find someone who attacks something I wrote before or without coming to me for clarification.
Yes, as my post indicates, I spent a year working as a paraprofessional in special education. This was not, however, while I waited for, as you described it, something better to come along. My undergrad degree was in another field entirely.
The decision to go into teaching was not one I took lightly. After I finally decided to persue a career in education, I wanted to do some work in the field while getting my Master's. This ended up being as a paraprofessional rather than as a sub. It was a position I sought out myself. Subbing would have been the easier route to acquire, but I thought the special ed experience would be much more rewarding and valuable. It turns out I was right. If anything, subbing would have been "parking my bus". I wanted a deeper investment.
As for "leaving" the kids, that was one of the HARDEST things I ever had to do in my life. I became incredibly attached to those children, especially one little boy in particular.In fact, perhaps this is the main reason why I grew so defensive at the sight of this post. However, the degree I had persued PRIOR to acquiring this position was for regular ed, not special ed. I had no idea going in the type of connection I would make because ALL of it was new to me.
The entire year I worked there I went back and forth, wondering if I should have gone the special ed route all along. Even now I talk about going back again, but school takes time, money and dedication, so the decision is not always so cut and dry. To assume otherwise about a complete stranger actually borders on ignorance, in my opinion.
Also, it needs to be said, that in any teacher's lifetime, regular ed, special ed or otherwise, there comes a time when the children too move on. I would not have stayed with those children the next year as many of them moved to new rooms or even new schools. I went back to visit those who remained and stayed in contact with the classroom teacher, but I DID want to make a difference. As a paraprofessional I would not have felt I was truly making my mark. This is why I wanted to lead a classroom of my own.
I will give you this. There are many regular education teachers who cringe at the idea of working with special ed students. In turn, however, I find there are a lot of special education teachers who often jump to conclusions about the intentions of regular education teachers. It's not a contest. ALL children need to be educated by people who care enough to do the job well, regardless of their classification.
In fact, if you have read any of the other posts on my site that revolve around my current position in so-called "regular" ed in an urban school district, my experience is anything but conventional. Regular ed is not a cakewalk and not all teachers are in it for long summers and tenure. Some of us care a lot more than that. This is why I am so passionate about false assumptions made about my character.
I felt I had to try and set the record straight cause quite frankly, from one educator to another, it seemed you had a lot to learn.
For starters, I open this question to you. Whether you're an educator or not, which do you think is easier to teach, special ed or regular ed? I'm making this question as open-ended as possible. I might expand upon it in the future.
I decided to additionally post my response to said blogger here, mainly because I needed to blow off some steam. The following is the rebuttal of sorts that I posted on the writer's site. Feel free to add your own two cents to either post:
I always love it when I find someone who attacks something I wrote before or without coming to me for clarification.
Yes, as my post indicates, I spent a year working as a paraprofessional in special education. This was not, however, while I waited for, as you described it, something better to come along. My undergrad degree was in another field entirely.
The decision to go into teaching was not one I took lightly. After I finally decided to persue a career in education, I wanted to do some work in the field while getting my Master's. This ended up being as a paraprofessional rather than as a sub. It was a position I sought out myself. Subbing would have been the easier route to acquire, but I thought the special ed experience would be much more rewarding and valuable. It turns out I was right. If anything, subbing would have been "parking my bus". I wanted a deeper investment.
As for "leaving" the kids, that was one of the HARDEST things I ever had to do in my life. I became incredibly attached to those children, especially one little boy in particular.In fact, perhaps this is the main reason why I grew so defensive at the sight of this post. However, the degree I had persued PRIOR to acquiring this position was for regular ed, not special ed. I had no idea going in the type of connection I would make because ALL of it was new to me.
The entire year I worked there I went back and forth, wondering if I should have gone the special ed route all along. Even now I talk about going back again, but school takes time, money and dedication, so the decision is not always so cut and dry. To assume otherwise about a complete stranger actually borders on ignorance, in my opinion.
Also, it needs to be said, that in any teacher's lifetime, regular ed, special ed or otherwise, there comes a time when the children too move on. I would not have stayed with those children the next year as many of them moved to new rooms or even new schools. I went back to visit those who remained and stayed in contact with the classroom teacher, but I DID want to make a difference. As a paraprofessional I would not have felt I was truly making my mark. This is why I wanted to lead a classroom of my own.
I will give you this. There are many regular education teachers who cringe at the idea of working with special ed students. In turn, however, I find there are a lot of special education teachers who often jump to conclusions about the intentions of regular education teachers. It's not a contest. ALL children need to be educated by people who care enough to do the job well, regardless of their classification.
In fact, if you have read any of the other posts on my site that revolve around my current position in so-called "regular" ed in an urban school district, my experience is anything but conventional. Regular ed is not a cakewalk and not all teachers are in it for long summers and tenure. Some of us care a lot more than that. This is why I am so passionate about false assumptions made about my character.
I felt I had to try and set the record straight cause quite frankly, from one educator to another, it seemed you had a lot to learn.
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