Respect episode 4

I have been teaching special education for roughly two months now and I have seen enough to conclude that the special education system is horribly broken. A convergence of a number of problems have allowed the system to become over-burdened and under staffed. While we spend more money per-capita for each general education student, we must spend even more for each special education one. However, the administration of these programs are have a pace more akin to the hectic nature of a trauma unit, doing whatever they can to keep the program alive. This has lead to issues of poor management and less than stellar administration.

I can’t blame them, there is an inherent problem that most of the others stem from: bureaucracy. While it is important for people to have the proper training, the system here in California is bogged down in overwhelming regulation. New training, new licensing, new standards, while well intentioned, have left the job largely an unattractive prospect for those thinking about special education as a career choice. Those that do end up in the openings are not those that set out to do the job specifically, rather, they are drawn from a pool of workers like me. A long term substitute who decided that if I was going to do the work of a full time teacher I might as well get the salary of one. For others that did choose the job, many are left out of the process (especially if they them-self's present as disabled). I have a friend that has a Master's degree in Special Education that has yet to find a job in the same district that hired a person like me, someone that has no formal training. 

The administration of the programs are at times confused and decisions made are arbitrary and the situations that are created drive off those that are happy to teach. An example of this can be seen in the school that I am now teaching. They lost almost half of its special education teachers and the chair of the special education department within the first two weeks of school. Over 180 students that currently depended upon those people were left looking toward under-trained and overworked people. 

It seems that there is something more at issue than the nuts and blots of the job.

I for one, a disabled man, has watched as autistic students have been treated like “problem” children by the para-educators. I'll use as an example one student in particular, I’ll call W for the sake of their anonymity, has been treated like he has a behavior issue. I can say that is somewhat the case; however, the approach that has been used to deal with this young person it what I take to task. I have seen, more than once, the para-educator approach this him in an aggressive way that is so focused and repeated that it could be interpreted as vindictive at times. Even going so far as to defend the Autistic Student’s bullies, ignoring my instructions (being the teacher in the class I am supposed to have the last say) and becoming confrontational and combative with him, then insist that we call campus security because the student was cursing and not following directions.

The following example is the epidemy of ableism. The more “normal” students or those who’s problems do not offend, are treated differently. While any student would be called on the carpet for bad behavior, this particular one has been ridden by the para-educator, escalating the situation and then her insistence on calling the campus security rather than the Vice Principal took the cake. I have talked to the para educator many times, talked to the Administration, continued to document each time she oversteps and later, I did confront her in front of the class when she had the nerve to take sides in a situation where the student in question was purposely being triggered by other students and even bullied. I have watched other students, with similar issues treated in similar ways. It is hard to watch and even harder not to become angry at my coworkers at times.

Although, there are problems there are solutions. I feel that, for now, I will continue to chronicle my time here. Perhaps, it will help keep the fire alive.