Where do we draw the line for Special Education in Public Schools?

So I was assigned an SEA (Special Ed Assistant) position at a local high school recently.

I show up to learn that I was going to be working with a violent "student" who suffers from a disorder (can't remember the name right now) that makes him very autistic. He cannot talk and communicates through a limited number of signs. The boy is 19--he does not attend class, and has never attended class as long as he has been in high school. This school keeps disabled kids until they are 21 and they work on preparing them for the real world in doing things like laundry, setting the table, washing dishes--chores that most of us learn before we are ten. This school does have a high percentage of job placement for these kids once they reach 21. I think I was told 90%. These kids get jobs as cart collectors at Walmart or doing laundry for a hospital or a simple job like that. I think this is a great program and think that this training time with these kids is important HOWEVER I do not feel it should take place in a public school.

Let me tell you about my day. I get there and am told that I will be working with another SEA with this boy. So 2 adults per 1 student. My primary job would be to call for security if needed. I had to tie back my hair (so he couldn't yank it) and hide any jewelry I had--so he didn't yank them. I was warned not to touch him--because it may set him off. I was also taught a few basic restraint techniques---sounds like I am working in a jail ward....

We went to the door to pick him up. It took us about 30 minutes to get him in the door, get his jacket off and to get him to sit in the cafeteria. The cafeteria is his "classroom". We then attempt to show him using pictures what we will be doing for the day. We then try to take him to the bathroom--and yes this grown man needs help to use it--and does wear a diaper for accidents which happen often. It takes us probably another 30 - 45 minutes to walk him to the bathroom. He doesn't want to walk. He starts yelling in the hallways. Teachers begin closing their doors because he is interrupting their lessons. Finally we get him to the bathroom. He takes another 15 to use it and then we are off. We decide to let him walk to get exercise. This ends up becoming a mistake. He walks to the library, where once again he becomes loud and disruptive. We then attempt to guide him (without touching him--remember this--that is why it takes so long to get him to do anything) back to the laundry room--his other classroom. Right now he is being taught to do laundry. Basically, the other SEA hands him laundry and he puts it in the machine and turns it on. He then wants to lay down for a nap, and does so for about 20 minutes. Then we are off to the cafeteria to try to get him to color a picture--the kind of picture Kylan now colors. He becomes disagreeable again and attempts to hit people as they pass. We call security. Security helps us get him seated in the cafeteria. Passing period then begins and students walk through the cafeteria. He strikes out and hits one. We now create a barrier (I, the other SEA and security) around him --remember not touching him--to keep other students out of his reach.

You like this so far--it does get better....

So we end up keeping him in the cafeteria until lunch. It feels like a decade has passed. I sit with other SEA's and their students. We find out there is going to be a fire drill. Things like fire drills can really set disabled students off. Argh! There is snow and it is winter. And now our task after lunch is to get him out of the building before the fire drill.

We get outside and go for a long walk. Then return after the bell. The walk was actually good. Perhaps all he needed was some fresh air. We come back in and see administrators running the hall. They stop and ask us if we have seen a certain SEA. We hadn't. Turns out, one of the other SE boys (the one I sat next to at lunch) had gone off the deep end. He bit two teachers taking chunks of skin out of them---those teachers were being rushed for help since there was a lot of blood. The other SEA was being looked for because they thought that he might be able to get the boy to calm down. After talking to the SEA I am working with I discover that this is not the first time this has happened. The boy is known for vicious bites that often lead to stitches and scarring. Yes and he is put around other students.

The rest of my afternoon actually went well. We got our kid to sit down and put together some elementary puzzles. We then fed him a snack and got him on the bus.

So here is my question--why are these students--who are a danger to themselves and others--put in public schools where they really aren't getting the value of a public education. They are getting an entirely separate education. We are endangering hundreds of kids to put them in a public school that is of no use to them? This makes no sense to me. I think that ABSOLUTELY there should be programs for these kids, however I think it should be in a safe area for them--where they are not disturbing the education of others and they are not endangering others.

Short and to the point. I don't have much more to say for this entry. Think it over next time you send your kid to school. Do you want your kids around others that have violent tendency or that are disruptive? Remember what we always push though--equal opportunity and equal education---yet these kids really can't get either because their disability hinders them. So why are we putting them in public schools?

Physics....

I was so excited when a physics teacher called me up and asked me to sub.

My curriculum! Yippee!!!

I was pumped. So off to high school I went. Turns out this teacher was a traveling teacher, so he had no home base. Which kind of sucks. I also was a traveling teacher for a year and know that it is nice to be able to be found in one place and have one place to call yours and make yours. However, being a traveling teacher has no effect on my desire to teach. It's all about the kids.

So I got to school bright and early. The teacher had emailed me lesson plans, but the plans had included--get this book from this teacher, study up pages such and such, and teach it. It also said--watch such and such's class and then teach the same thing the next hour. I figured I probably should arrive early so that I knew what I was doing.

I got there early and found out that I was teaching Physical Science (Yippee!) to sophomores, Physics to Juniors, and Integrated math to freshmen. For the most part the day went well. The sophomores did awesome. They listened as I presented v = d/t. We solved problems together. Pretty much the whole class finished the worksheet and showed it to me. I made sure every one had the right answers and understood. Ahh....it feels so good to know that material was learned.

After this I had Physics, where I first observed the teacher and then taught the same material. In my opinion, the material was pretty simple. There were some variances from what I teach, but that is fine and expected. I also spoke to the department chair about the material and he agreed with me that the variances were not a big deal. However, I wanted to be consistent so I taught the way the other teacher had presented. Well this didn't entirely work. Some of the students argued over the material. I told them to talk to their teacher about it on Monday and expressed that the other classes were taught something differently. Very confusing!

Apparently this teacher follows the exact curriculum of several other teachers. I found this very interesting that he did the same worksheets and presented the material the same. I think this is an interesting and perhaps good idea for new teachers (which he may be---I don't know), but I know that in order to teach--I like to present the material in the best way I feel comfortable and in a unique way that will somehow grab students attention.

Now I know I was only there one day---so I really don't know the different methods they use and stuff, but I guess I am a bit concerned that if a teacher isn't taking the time to "own" the material and put their own creativity in it, it may not be taught in the best way. I also know that I would often alter my style and methods of teaching for my students as I got to know them better, so I was the most effective with them.

Anyway-- on to the rest of my day. The most challenging class I had was fourth hour physics. The kids just felt the need to make comments on everything. There was definitely a popularity contest going on as different kids tried to make the best "comment". So then I began my comments and kicked three students out. I have to say I was very glad that I forgot to take attendance. After I regained control of the class I was easily able to determine then, via attendance, the three young men I had sent out of the class.

After that I brought the students back in, only to quickly kick two of them back out again. ARGH! 11th graders can be some of the most challenging kids.

Reflecting on this--what could I have done better. Well, in the future I think I may take attendance in the middle/end of class. I only did it by accident, but it really helped me to get control. Secondly, I should have given a known allotment of time on the beginning class problem. (I was unsure how long to give them so I left it open ended and as result some kids slacked.) Next time I will give a time amount and then adjust if needed. These are the big things I will keep in mind for next time.

So the rest of the day was good. My next Physical Science class was just as good as the first one. And the last class of the day was Math for freshman. I am not sure I could have done anything much differently with this class. They were under control-however very few were doing their work--and I was under the impression that normally these kids don't' really do their work in this class. That and it was a Friday and the last class. I will keep thinking about this--but the teachers instructions were loose and like I said, looking at some of their previous work--it was probably a pretty typical day for these kids.

Well that is all for now---however I am going to start an entry on cell phones. I think this is a serious issue in schools that MUST be addressed. Until next time!

Physical Education

One of my last jobs was a PE teacher for an elementary school.

I was not feeling up to it---but took the job anyway.

It was nice wearing sneakers and a sweatshirt to a teaching job for a change.

I taught 8 classes that day and taught all grades k-5. I have a new respect for PE teachers now. I realize that PE teachers really don't get to know there students as well as a grade teacher. I saw about 240 kids that day--and realize that if I had subbed another day I would have seen another 240.

My gym was also the cafeteria. So if I set up equipment, I had to take it down and put it back up for lunch. That also meant that after lunch I had a sticky floor. YUCK. I also had little (less than 5 minutes) or no time between classes. So one minute I was teaching kindergartners, the next minute fifth graders--and it is hard to do the same activities for both grades, meaning I needed different equipment. Yeah-- a lot more respect for PE teachers. The day went fine for the most part. When I finished early, I would have the kids sit on a line and we would play telephone. This OLD OLD game is amazing. It gets all the kids quiet and keeps their full attention.

I got a little attitude from some fifth graders---but that is expected--and I just made them sit out for a few minutes. Even as a PE teacher, I made 4 kids cry. It is amazing how sensitive they are--which is good! Children should be that innocent.

Just to clarify, the kids that cried were kids that were talking when I was trying to talk, so I them sit against the wall. I think it just shocked them and probably scared them. These kids probably didn't get in trouble very often.

Anyway--all in all a good day. Oh yeah--this school calls recess Peaceful Play. That was a new one. And for "Peaceful Play" the school provided the kids with sleds and shovels and snow brick makers. The kids had an awesome time sledding and making snow forts. It was neat to watch.

Well that is all for now.

Next post--the physics teacher.....