Parent Teacher Conference

Every year as a special educator I hear from one of my parents, "I hate parent teacher conferences. Every time I come the teacher tells me how bad my child is and never says anything positive. I don't even know why I come." This disturbs me greatly. Now I am not saying special education students aren't hard because I know they are but I am saying don't they deserve positive feedback in their education? Imagine going somewhere everyday that you HATE and spending countless hours of the day being put down, yelled at or given work that is too difficult. Would you want to go back the next day? Well, some of these kids don't either.

Now I am not saying this is the majority because it's not, there are MANY teachers out there who get special education students and help them succeed but the minority that don't can make a student's and parent's life miserable. During this time of year as we begin to have parent teacher conferences please take a minute to come up with one positive thing for your special education student. Not only for them but for the parents that have to deal with having a disabled child 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.