Things I learned as a substitute teacher

Recently, I got the priviledge to substitute teach for an ECE class. (Early Childhood Education) Basically this is a pre-school class within the regular school system, but all the kids in this class have some form of learning disability or special needs. Some of them were light cases, where others were extreme cases. While spendind the day with them I learned a few things.

One, it is okay if you don't get things done precisely, or for that matter, correctly. With these kids, some progress or some attempt is better than nothing.

Two, the teachers and teacher's aides are not paid enough. They are fantastic people. I only have to deal with the kids on a irregular basis while they deal with them almost everyday. I truly doubt I could do that.

Three, these kids don't know they have difficulties. To them, it is just the way things are. We are the ones that perceive them as abnormal or disabled.

And lastly, and most importantly, I learned that everyone who has a "normal" child and complains about them, should spend a week helping out in a class like this. After that much time, they will come away from it knowing that things could be a lot worse for them and that they should be thankful for what kind of kid they have. In this class there are students for whom the simple act of writing their name will be Herculean effort, or an act that they will never accomplish. There is also a child who was the victim of a violent act that they will never recover from. Many people might think that this child would have been better off not surviving the incident, but after spending time with this child, I think I know their purpose in life. It is to show people like me that we should appreciate our normal kids more and quit the bitching about them, because, but for the Grace of God, we could easily be in the same situation.

So, the next time you find yourself complaining about your "normal", go spend some time with a special needs kids. You will find it rewarding, certainly entertaining, and you will gain a better understanding of what normal is!

later!