This is just a rant and reflection kinda post, feel free to scroll on.
Working in childcare has shown me that it’s hard to actually care about the children. I am 1000% someone who will support teachers and literally anything that benefits the children. But sometimes the children that need the most attention or help are pushed aside by the very adults that are claiming to want what’s best for them. And it hurts me.
Just because a child has different needs than many others doesn’t mean he should be treated less. I work with a teacher that seems to be only looking for the worst in my kiddo I work one on one with. You can’t hold grudges against 5yos just because they came in one day feeling grouchy or couldn’t focus. The first interaction my student has with many of his teachers are reprimands. No gentle redirection, no listening to what he might have to say. Just “stop doing that or I’m calling the office!” And then he gets to sit and not do work while missing his class time.
You can’t have a productive relationship with a child you have no friendly relationship with. Why would they listen to you? Why should they follow your rules? You can’t just place demand after demand, giving little to no praise and reinforcement, and expect the child to love you. There is nothing to work on if there is no foundation of a relationship.
There is a reason behind every action. Every behavior has a function. Every child learns differently. Teachers have a tough job.
It’s also a tough job to be the only support for a child who should have a school system, classroom, and family to rely on.
It breaks my heart to make small steps of progress just to see them pushed back to the starting line by the very people who are supposed to be cheering them on.
I wish I could just look at this as a job. But I can’t. It’s not fair to the child to only be viewed as a paycheck. I love them and I want them to succeed with every fiber of my being. But I can’t do it alone.
