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Education | wprnPublicRadio.com
Reported By Adam Scull

Special education, also known as special-needs education, is the practice of educating students to accommodate their individual differences, disabilities, and special needs.

Educating our young population today, is akin to parenting, perhaps the second most difficult profession to master. To the layperson, it might appear simplistic and rote, but that is a misnomer, as we routinely face enormous responsibilities and challenges annually. This is not a job, it is a calling. Although we wear many hats, our dedication and support is evident. All students are respected, nurtured, and encouraged to be active participants in the learning process. We work in tandem with other educators to ensure individual growth and creativity. Our focus is always on the child, whether gifted, special needs or other.

That’s Ivy Penzell, an elementary education teacher who has worked with special needs students over her twenty-five-year tenure,

Unfortunately, there is a big concern, as we face a tremendous void in the field of education throughout the country today. Special Education likely takes the lead. The profession as it stands now, has a higher rate of burnout than most others. There are several reasons, and if this exodus is not addressed accordingly, our students will ultimately pay the price.

How do you parcel out your time when you have to work with a student alone?

This is determined in tandem with the general education teacher. The student and I might work in the classroom, and/or with a small group of students or one-on-one depending on the circumstances. It’s important to assess the student’s skills, whereby patience is key and the teacher needs to establish a safe environment for the student. The time allotment would usually be one period approximately 30-45 minutes. We are burdened with responsibilities that take us from our classrooms. Special Education teachers often have to deal with behavioral issues, as well as multiple disabilities, tailoring lessons for each student. By the same token, inclusive classes can be overwhelming for students who haven’t disabilities, as they are unaccustomed to dealing with those who do.

Do you believe Individual Education Plans are important?

Yes, they are an integral part of special education teaching. They are important tools that address each student’s learning needs.

Are there enough Special Education teachers to fulfill their obligations to the students

No. Special Education students often lose out because there aren’t enough Special Education teachers to accommodate their needs.

Special education programs are primarily facing larger enrollment and decreasing budgets. Teachers need as much support as their students. We’re already 2 weeks into the new school year, and principals are still scrambling for teachers. This impacts the entire system. Last year, there were 36,500 teacher vacancies, and 51,000 teachers and staff who left their jobs in June of 2023, and the numbers continue to escalate. We are experiencing the worst teacher shortage in history! There is so much more we can do if we work together. Teaching has always been a noble profession and it needs to be recognized and rewarded as such. We are the catalysts for future generations of children and are privileged to touch the future with them.

When and why did you decide to become an educator?

I had a 5th-grade teacher, Mr. Joeseph Conlon. He was the first educator who took an interest in me and changed my life. He saw something in me that I hadn’t realized. Promise. With his guidance from that moment on I became a very good student, and never looked back.

What do you enjoy most about teaching?

Seeing progress and making a difference in my student’s lives. There’s nothing more gratifying than watching their eyes light up as they gain confidence and begin to master their reading and math skills.

Have you encountered any specific challenging behavioral issues in your classroom?

Yes, I’ve handled them with patience and consistency, working closely with the student, parents, and school psychologist.

How would you integrate a student with learning disabilities in the classroom?

I would educate the other students about learning disabilities, to encourage acceptance. In addition, I would ensure the needs of the students were met through accommodations and modifications.

What teaching strategies do you prefer and why?

I use hands-on activities in conjunction with direct teaching. The hands-on activities allow students to learn through experience, and the direct instruction ensures the students understand what’s being taught.

What do you see for the future of special needs teaching?

If the present trend continues as it is now, the at-risk children will not be prepared to sustain a successful future for themselves and their families. The educational system is greatly impacted by the bureaucracy, particularly in Florida where the red tape supersedes the urgent needs of the community.

The poet William Butler Yates penned the following, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” This is the reason I teach, this is the reason we all do.

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Welcome to the first in a series of readings called The Book Nook on WPRN PublicRadio, where finding short stories and sections of books that carry emotional depth and meaning to a broader audience of readers and listeners is our mission.

Arts & Culture | The Book Nook | wprnPublicRadio.com
Written by randall “Jay” andrews | Read By Adam Scull

Randall “J”Andrews, a writer in Los Angeles for twenty-five years, spent the first twenty working as a scriptwriter in Hollywood and has penned over forty manuscripts. He was the fiftieth president of South West Manuscripters, founded by Ray Bradbury, Steve Allen, and Rod Serling.

Randall taught writing after his postgraduate degrees in English Literature from Washington State University, Central Washington University, and the University of Washington. He founded the publishing company JaCol Publishing, and currently runs a series of boot camps for writers, helping with plot, narrative, pace, theme, and the three-act structure, as well as full editing for clients on any genre. He is the founder of Writers World, an online critique room with thousands of writers, and continues to hone his craft, having put out seven novels during CoViD.

Saving Grace

Twenty some years ago, when I lived in Eastern Washington, I was out at a lake one busy summer day enjoying the heat of an Indian day. I wasn’t a father and I didn’t have any major responsibilities outside of rounding out my education and taking in what youth was still in my body. It was a good time to be alive, mid-twenties, good shape; family members since gone still alive. It was a far better time than I realized, but isn’t that how it always is?

I was dating a young woman who lived on the outskirts of Yakima, and on that hot August day we went for a swim with the thousands of other people spending the last bit of Labor Day on picnics and recreation. People had canoes, floaties, rafts, anything to tan while swimming. We waded into the outer rim of the shallow end, every once in a while stepping into crater size holes dropping us under the water, cool respites from the heat. The noise of fun was overwhelming, we clung face to face, not in a display of affection but rather to hear one another, our words turned inaudible just inches after they left our mouths.

Hear the story.

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