The Kel Smith

zzzeee asked: Wow! I know you've been having some issues with the teaching world, but what was the straw that finally broke the camel's back?

A lot of things finally took me down.  I really like working with special needs children and I’d like to think I am good at it - but the way of teaching special needs in public schools has changed a lot in the ten years I have been teaching. Not for the worse at all - inclusion has taken over and I really do believe that is a good thing. However, it’s not how I like to teach. If I wanted to be in front of 30 smiling faces everyday, I would’ve gotten my regular education license. But I enjoy small group and one-on-one. I feel a greater connection.

I also just don’t like the “rat race” and I get that the world operates that way - but I feel like teachers haven’t always. Recently, in Wisconsin, I’ve heard more and more stories of teachers being unwilling to share lesson plans for fear that another teacher gets credit and, therefore, gets the evaluation raise to go with it. It’s not an environment that I like or that I think is conducive to productive teaching. So I would rather find another way to work with children. 

I started out doing line therapy (in home, one-on-one) with autistic students and I really think I might enjoy going back to that part-time come fall. I’m not ready to just not work at all…I know myself well enough to know I wouldn’t be happy being home all the time. 

I am really excited for the future right now. It’s the first time we’ve taken a risk on me - its not the best time. But it’s the necessity of the time. 

And who knows….maybe in five years I’ll be back in a classroom again.