Miles to Go

This week I discovered that I need to put a sign outside of our classroom door. "Children are not on display. If you feel you must come stare, the price of admissions is $10 per person. Comments are extra." Apparently when HER boss came for inspection, MY boss (aka the principal) thought it would be a good idea to give her a tour of the school. I have no issue with that, although I agree with all of the other teachers that a little warning or at least introduction would have been appreciated. No, my issue arises from the moment when my classroom door swings wide open and I look over (expecting to see a child making a bold dash for freedom - as if that ever works) to see my principal and some random woman standing there staring in at us. That feeling you get when someone is staring at you, that creepy "Big Brother is watching you" feeling? It was completely that stare rather than an interested observation. Apparently just a quick stare was not enough because my principal opened her mouth and out fell a new level of inappropriate treatment of me and my children. "This class is chaos. It is always like this. This is our preschool and so they all have disabilities. Well not all of them, two of them are normal inclusion peers." Where oh where do I begin with that? First, allow me to thank you for undermining my teaching in front of your boss. I am quite sure that she found your supportive attitude towards your staff a positive quality to note in your record. Also allow me to thank you for reminding me exactly why I must find a job in a different school, different company, different anything for next year and get the hell out from under your power. Trust me, once I have secured a different job you will have the opportunity to hear my comments on your job performance. Also, if you have the opinion that my class could be kept under better control, please demonstrate this for me by coming out of your cozy office and teaching my class for one day while I observe (with video camera in hand, for reference purposes of course). I am sure it would be highly educational and insightful. Second, where do you get off talking as if my children are somehow less than others because they have developmental delays/disabilities? I don't know what rock you live under (never mind - refer back to hiding in cozy office) but it is inappropriate to refer to only some of my children as normal. ALL of my children are "normal", whatever the hell that means, because all of them are CHILDREN. Some may use wheelchairs, some may use sign language to communicate or picture symbols or voice output devices, some may require assistance to engage with their environment, some may not understand social skills in the same traditional way, but all of them are CHILDREN who love to play, to laugh, to be treated as full individuals with value. Do not negate the inclusive culture I have managed to create in my classroom in spite of the culture of the district. Do not negate the worth of any of my children. Do not treat us as a sideshow attraction. I went over to see what she needed, and my principal said she was just showing this woman (I was ever introduced to her - apparently I am not up to that standard) around and they just wanted to look for a minute. I asked if they had any questions and was told no. My children come to school to learn, to be in a safe environment where their delays are not a barrier, where they will be taught and appreciated on a truly individual level. They do not come to school to be put on display and disrespected. I am fair game because I signed a contract to work there and I can choose to defend myself any number of ways, but my children are off limits. They have no say in being there, or in how the adults around them choose to behave, and they can not speak for themselves. I speak for them and I say they are off limits. Their parents trust me with their care, and I refuse to allow them to be treated as anything less than the incredible children that they are and as absolutely worthy individuals. I have reached my limit of watching these children being treated as less than others, as undeserving and as unequal to others. Now I just need to figure out the best course of action. When I graduated from college I was so wide eyed and truly believed that we had made such progress in the education of children with special needs. Now I see that we have only really made a beginning, and some gestures, but we have many "miles to go before [we] sleep".