Being a teacher – especially one who works with students with exceptional needs – often feels like a thankless uphill struggle. It’s often difficult to see what little progress is being made, if any. Many days, it feels like you’ve slipped backwards.
But then there are the days…then, there are the days when a student says something, or does something, or reveals that they’ve actually been learning from you, that you’ve managed to get through to them, that you’ve had an impact.
Those are the good days.
My wife had one of those days today. I don’t think she actually hugged the student who said this, but I think she really wanted to.
Sometimes, you have one of the good days, and you remember why you do this job with the low pay and the long hours and the politicians using you as a talking point in a battle over spending cuts. Sometimes, it’s worth it to be a teacher.
Sketches From Memory 