Sweet Max: I’m so sorry we failed you

Nothing upsets me more than learning about the physical restraint of children with autism in school. Basically, these students are punished for having a disability. The following story is what prompted this post: Restraint Death Prompts School To Close As a  middle school special education teacher, I work with students with emotional and behavioral disorders as well as students with …

Not your grandmother’s snow day

Teacher or student, I’ve always loved me a snow day. (For you English teachers, I realize that is not proper grammar. I’m writing in casual conversation here…) I grew up in southern Kansas. Snow days were rare. My best recollection of a snow day was the winter of 1971 when my dad wrapped Wonder Bread sacks around our shoes and …

As I see it: a view through the special educator’s lens

There are some things that happen in public education that I will never understand. I realize I come from a background very different than most public school teachers. I was fortunate to start my teaching career in small, private schools, where imagination and creativity by the teacher was encouraged. Ironically, I started out teaching in a rigorous program in the …