Consider all the challenges faced in education
Recently I was asked by the school-based mental health counselor to attend a meeting to review their student caseload and related progress. When attending these meetings, I tend to walk away feeling sad due to the hands students are dealt and the expectations we have to assure they learn.
At the same time, I’m inspired by the progress they make due to the commitment from the counselors and teachers.
On any given day, educators hear references about student neglect, sexual and physical abuse, poverty, fetal alcohol syndrome, oppositional disorders, emotional disturbance, abandonment, depression, death and the list is much more extensive. Couple that with other conditions such as hearing loss, cognitive delays, blindness, attention deficit disorder, diabetes and more, the challenges to meet all student’s needs is huge.
My inspiration comes from the fact that even though any and all of these factors affect student learning, teachers use everything in their bag of tricks to teach all children, no matter the condition or situation. This comes from the belief by teachers that all children can learn, and they do!
In this season of thanks and miracles, I believe miracles happen daily in our schools. The school setting is a safe place for seven or more hours daily for students. In the school setting, teachers collaborate with others frequently to assure they are addressing their students’ learning styles and needs, which results in optimal learning.
To see the look of pride on a child’s face when they grasp a new concept and apply it to a real life situation is the miracle I’m referring to, and there are many more that occur each and every day.
From time to time, I hear and read negative comments about the state of education these days and how educators aren’t doing a good enough job teaching students. No matter the profession, we should always strive to do better, and in education, we do.
Unfortunately, not everyone understands the complexity of trying to meet the needs of all the students, especially those who come to school each day with special needs. However, if you take a moment and reflect on what educators are confronted with daily, it may result in a better understanding by some of the challenges teachers face.
In this season of giving, I hope you find time to give thanks to an educator just as we give thanks to our veterans, fire fighters, law enforcement, doctors, nurses, community groups and everyone else who cares about our families, children and doing the right thing. I want to extend to everyone good health, happiness and kindness to one another this holiday season and all year long. Thank you and merry Christmas.
Paul Jenkins,
Superintendent of
Lakeside/Somers School
District 29