Before I start this post, I am going to state that not all teachers are created equal. We have some amazingly awesome teachers out there, who truly love their job and their students. But we also have a good number of teachers, who have either lost their way or have forgotten why they became teachers in the first place. We have been blessed with a good number of fantastic teachers, that have enriched all of our children's lives. But with those, we have also had the ones who didn't take the time to properly teach or even get to know the special students within their classroom.
As the school year begins in full swing, its thus starts for us parents the scheduling of IEP meetings as well as trying to get our children back into routines. Its stressful. Most times we have children that either very keen to get back into something that gives them comfort or we have children that fight us every step of the way, as it is a change that is monotonous to them. That is not say that this will be the norm for the rest of the remaining school year. But it will take time adjust. With all of that, these kids are adapting to a new classroom, sometimes a new teacher, new aides and a slew of new faces. It can be hard for a child with Autism to navigate. Again, once there is an adjustment, certain behaviors will decrease.
With all that being said, us parents have a difficult task of trying to figure out things that will help our children into this transition. Which is why we rely on our children's teachers to help us out. You guys are with our children most of the school day. You will know what is setting them off and what is working to help them get through their day. Now, all of us parents know that teaching children is not an easy task, again one of the reason we are so grateful to you all.
That gratefulness comes though, when we can see just how much you mean to our children. When our children come home from school, still having that wanting and joy to learn, it means you have done your job. When our children, who are verbal, talk highly of you, it means you have done your job.
But when our children, have no desire to learn, refuse to go to school, or even script from the bad days you have, which is them screaming the same things you have done in class or the report cards aren't reflecting the IEP goals, then sadly we parents, become "Those Parents" That is when you start to see the fighter in us. We don't want to become those type of parents that you complain about. But its just one of those things that happens to a parent when they see that things are not what they are supposed to be or IEPs that aren't being followed.
Speaking of IEPs, the meetings are just as stressful to us as they are to you. Especially when you know that our child is struggling. Its one thing to sit there and tell us that our child is a joy to have in class, but then list all the things they are doing wrong. Work with us parents to find a plan to help our children. Except that everything is trial and error. Somethings are going to work, but somethings aren't. It is very demotivating for us parents, when there is no interest or when you have no idea what this child is capable of. There is a reason they give you a snapshot of the IEP at the beginning of the school year.
Again, I am not saying that every teacher out there is bad. There are some absolutely fantastic teachers out there, who really love the job they are doing. But if you are a teacher, that finds themselves screaming a lot at your students or singling out the special needs children because you can't deal with how they deal with the world, then maybe you need to take a step back and reevaluate your job.
Most of us parents, don't want to seem angry all the time at the school system. Most of us just want a decent education for our children, that happen to need a little special attention. So when you guys sit down and decide who is going to have the opportunity to have a special needs child in their class, please take the time to really think about it. Review the snapshot of the child's IEP. Familiarize yourself with your students. And its ok, if you aren't up for having a special needs student in your class, but be honest about it.
For those who are blessed with having our children in your classroom, you are the teachers that will concrete that love for learning. You are the ones, that will make an impact on our children's academic life. I know that there are going to be days, where its going to be crazy, but you have a room full of impressionable children. I can't not stress that enough.
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