As someone who holds education at a high value, I’m a firm believer that every single person should get the right to it. I’m also a firm believer that everyone should be treated equally inside and outside of the classroom. Sadly, this isn’t always the case.
The other day, a story came up in my hometown's local newspaper about an on-going dispute with a mother, her special education daughter, and her daughter’s teacher, who supposedly wasn’t following her daughter's learning plan and was mistreating her. Along with this article were some emails exchanged between the mother and teacher. In these emails, the teacher said some pretty awful things. While there are always two sides to a story, there’s a fine line when people are disrespected.
In this article and these emails, the following sentence was said:
“There is absolutely nothing positive I can say to this. Shame on this district. It would be nice if we spent this much extra time on the regular Ed and gifted students. You know, those that are going to amount to something."
Now, I’m not here to bash on this situation, that’s not my intention at all. As I said before, there are always two sides to a story. Rather, I’m using it to bring light.
In the comment, the teacher is implying that special education students won’t amount to anything.
Doesn’t being an educator mean supporting and believing in all your students?
Special Education doesn’t mean students are lesser by any means. Special Education simply means that they need help processing schoolwork more, or learn at a different pace than other people may. Everyone learns at their own pace.
With that said, disabled children deserve to have an education, a safe school environment, and teachers who care. Special Education children deserve to have an education, a safe school environment, and teachers that care. Children in general deserve to have an education, a safe school environment, and teachers that care.
In a world that fights so hard for equality, we have a long way to go. Instead of dividing humanity into groups, why can’t we be just one big group of human beings?
Until then, I guess we have to continue fighting. I never thought education would end up being a part of the fight. To see children being refused a good education because they learn at a slower pace breaks my heart. I’m a firm believer that education should be a universal opportunity. Education helps expand not only the mind but the person as well. Education brings a whole new dynamic into life. There's everlasting growth and knowledge. You can never stop learning. The world is endless when it comes to things to learn. I want our youth to be able to explore this. No matter what their situation is. I hope that we can one day give that.
