Disillusionment

This chapter of Teaching Hope examined the more personal struggles that teachers face. Those problems that we hold inside and keep to ourselves. These are the issues that bring us down and make us ask "Why the hell did I choose this job?".  I was particularly drawn to entry #81. In this entry, a special educator is approached by a student asking why her regular teachers don't understand dyslexia and why don't they follow the modifications set in place. This makes me so angry. Like this student, I can't understand why a teacher wouldn't take the time to understand what their student is dealing with. Shouldn't we all want to do whatever it takes so that our students might succeed? Is it just me? I hope not. Yes. It might be impossible for our special education classes to teach us everything about every learning disability. But that doesn't mean that we can just turn a blind eye to those that we don't fully understand. The teachers in this situation should be looking up any information they can to understand their student. If they have questions about modifications, they should have a conversation with the special educator, the parents, or even the student. We should all be working toward a common goal: teaching our students in manners that foster success and confidence. When we are able to allow our students to become successful in the face of a "disability" they are able to see that they are "ABLE". Teachers that continue to be ignorant of what affects our students should honestly have a reality check. When you refuse to take the time to understand what students are struggling with, you have no business giving them a low grade. Give yourself one. Let someone who cares teach this student. It might take a little more effort, but isn't that what teaching is all about?