As I get closer to retirement (within the next 2 years), I become more and more intolerant of the lack of help for children in need. I teach grade 3, and it is this year that we begin to identify children with learning, behavioural and emotional difficulties.Yet many times it is too late. We usually know in kindergarten if a child will face challenges in school. We need to act much sooner - not only for that child but for all the children around him or her. Especially if there are emotional/mental health issues, the other children in the class face fallout.
I know first hand from the student with mental health issues I had last year. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure last year (after never having a problem with it before this school year) - a year of daily stress took its toll on me. I know the children in my class faced that same stress. I tried so many times to seek help for him - and the class. Now he is in a behavioural setting. Too late in my estimation.
I want to take a stronger stand and seek ways - at school, board, municipal and provincial levels -to help children in need, earlier and with more methods that will actually help children and their families. If we don't act sooner, we will be paying a much greater price down the road.
As Jamie says:
"You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above on your blog . Support wishes by visiting other participants. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together."
14 comments:
My sister works as an aide in a kindergarten classroom to help the children who are having difficulties keeping up with the class, or behaving. There are also those few special needs kids that are going to fall through the cracks if someone doesn't take a stand for them, and get them the help they need. Bravo to you for wanting to be that someone! A wonderful wish.
As you wish for yourself, so I wish for you also.
I'm five years away from retirement and believe me, I HEAR YOU! I also teach 3rd grade and last year I had an emotionally disturbed girl. I tried to get help for her, but blah, blah, blah...bureaucracy!!! She would stand up and scream in class, disrupting my lessons, she stabbed herself with a pencil...I got NO HELP AT ALL from anybody! It was 6 months of HE** until FINALLY her mother agreed to place her in an emotionally disturbed class at another school. Oye vei! Test scores? FORGET IT...all the kids went down that year.
The world is a better place because of what you are doing. Thanks. :)
As Bev wishes for herself and the children, so I wish for them also.
PS: my verificatation word is BLESSeja! Seja means "be" in portuguese. Blessed be. :)
As you intend for those around you and yourself, I too am aligned with you.
http://ramennoodlesagain.blogspot.com
As you wish for yourself, so I wish for you also.
Love this wish...
As you wish for yourself, so I wish for you also.
admirable and ... namaste [bows]
as you wish , i wish for you <3g!
I agree...
As an art teacher, I see the lack of imagination & creativity children have... very heart breaking!
As you wish for yourself, I wish for you as well.
I have mad props and awe for teachers like yourself. It always seems so strange to me that education funds are always the first to get cut when that's humanity's future.
As you wish for yourself, so I truly wish for you also.
What a powerfully important wish - to help children. Teachers are facing incredible challenges these days...I can only imagine what you must go through. Like firefights, doctors and paramedics, TEACHERS are some of our unsung heroes.
As you wish for yourself I wish for you - and the CHILDREN - as well.
As someone who has retired, I feel your pain. I know we could exchange story after story. I am so glad that you are a voice for all of the children in your class. Each and everyone of them needs to be in the proper setting so they can get the education that is appropriate for them. As you wish for yourself and all the children that you teach, I wish for you as well.
PS: Thank you so much for the Art Trading Card. It is the first one I have ever received and it is beautiful.
Thank you all so much for such lovely comments and wishes!
I so forgot about the test scores Cheryl! We go into EQAO testing the beginning of June - what fun!
Bravo for taking this stand. As you wish for yourself, so I wish for you also.
You are awesome. As not many people care about the behavior of the kids unless they are disruptive. I see from my oldest daughter family. Her current mate has a son that lives with them. And he is unlike any person I have ever known. He feeds on negative attention. He is let by with it in this school district. But when they lived in St. Charles. He every day cam home with a red mark. From unexceptionable issues.
The father links nothing of it. But I feel he needs council. I also have told daughter if this child hurts my oldest grandson again. I will be letting him live with me. As there were thumb prints on Jeremy throat from being choked. I can not allow this kind of harm. Daughter has 3 kids total. 2 with this child's father. And the oldest I speak of is 11.
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