Using Prompt One

I am working with VIPS in a middle school in Providence (of course) in a classroom that has sixth through eight grade students who are special education students. I have completed six hours in the classroom so far. The students run on a middle school schedule with a six period day and change classrooms with the change of each period. There can be as many as 12 students in one period or as few as six. The primary teacher in the room is supported by two other full time teachers assistants. The necessity for special education represented within the room is extremely varied and ranges from behavioral issues to documented severe mental and cognitive issues.

The classroom I am working in is in a separate "wing" of the school which houses the classrooms which are special education. This wing appears newer than the other areas of the school and is painted with lighter colors making it more bright and alive and less dank than the rest of the building. The specific classroom I am working in is fairly large, and has bigger tabletop desks for the students. Each teacher has a desk, and there are working computers along one large wall. A small amount of student work is displayed. There is a locked cabinet filled with treats which the students can earn by earning points, generally given for acts of kindness to others or helpful behaviors (sometimes for completing an assignment).

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I heard the reference "these are the throw away kids." Truth be told that's how it feels when I walk in to that school. There is no sense of urgency behind these kids education, no push, no effort in the appearance of the building it's more like...well we have to educate them so lets do what we can with these kids..emphasis on "these."

Now, I am speaking to the overall tone of the school, appearance and tone I can gather. It feels like "they" expect no return on what effort they could put in, and so there is none put in at all. I didn't go to a school like that, my kids don't go to a school like that. The difference is focus. Focus on future goals, and taking active steps daily to reach and get return on those goals. "Don't get into fights, show up"...These are goals? What the kids know is what these teachers are showing them they have the ability to reach. They are not being shown enough, and throwing them in a dank building with no care taken to spruce it up with the kids work doesn't help. The children's' work is free and great hallway decoration. Decorating the hallways with the students' work would really change the look of the school at a great price and is a nice way to say " Take pride in what you do, we are proud of it."

The classroom itself is much more pleasant. If I was in that school I might choose to be special ed. by acting up just to get over there. There are smaller classes that have more teachers who are great with encouragement (or at east the one I have the pleasure of working with). The teacher I work with holds the students to a good standard and teaches social skills while teaching the necessary daily lesson. The kids really like her, and respond to her as such. It is obvious that each student is personally important to this teacher and she is not willing to let anyone slip by. She seems to know what each one of the students is lacking at home and outside school and she comes emotionally equipped to give it all. Some people are meant to teach, the teacher I am working with is clearly one of those people.