If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn. – Ignacio Estrada
Education is one thing that many Anabaptists value. We believe that a Christocentric education is best for our students. We have our own private Anabaptist day schools staffed by those who also appreciate and value education. We offer a variety of subjects ranging from Bible classes to advanced mathematics, and a variety of elective courses. We encourage our students to reach their full potential while they are in the classroom. We want to see our students thrive. There is one area however, in which we seem to struggle to help our students to be able to thrive. This is the area of special education.
It seems that in our schools, we are finding that more and more of our students need to be given alternative ways to learn. It can sometimes feel like none of our students even are able to learn by the “traditional” method of teaching. There are times when the teachers are just expected to help those few struggling students in addition to their entire fifteen to twenty other students. This can be the cause of burnout for some teachers. Teachers sometimes have so much on their plate that it is impossible to even find the plate at times. Bringing in teachers who understand special educations and can handle those diverse learners is a good way to help and encourage teachers to continue teaching.
You may be wondering why it would be important to bring in special education teachers, so here are three aspects that I believe are important to consider as part of this discussion.
First, it enables. Having a capable teacher, enables those diverse learners to see the world the way that God has created their brain. They will be able to access learning in the way that is best for them. Having special education resources at our schools, also enables the parents of diverse learners. It enables parents to send them to the same Anabaptist day school that their other children are attending. Having those resources at your school can also enable parents to know how to help their child interact with the world around them. Having those resources also enables the teachers at the school. When they can share the workload of some of those struggling students with another teacher, it helps them to be able to reach around to all the students in the classroom. As you can see, encouraging special education in our schools enables students, parents, and teachers.
The second thing encouraging special education does is demonstrates. Special education demonstrates compassion. When we take the time to help every student learn in the ways that best suits them, we are showing compassion. As Anabaptists, we believe in helping those around us. That should start right in our own communities, with our own students in our own schools. This can also demonstrate competence. When a teacher is willing to spend some time in training, whether it is in college or something similar, it shows that they have a desire to learn. When a teacher has a desire to learn to help others around them, it really does show compassion.
The third aspect I see in bringing special education into Anabaptist schools, is that it fulfills Christ’s teaching. Most people are familiar with Matthew 28:19-20, or as it is also called, The Great Commission. Verse nineteen says that we are supposed to go out teaching all people. While this means about Scripture and Christ, I believe that we are also supposed to educate people through books and school. Before we are going out into all the world, we need to recognize that we should be teaching everyone in our communities. Matthew 25:40 talks about “the least of these”. I believe that those students who are diverse learners, are the least of these in our communities. We need to be responsible in making sure that they are provided with the opportunities to learn, like others in our communities.
Special education is a topic that I am especially passionate about. I want to see every student in our Anabaptist schools reaching their full potential. This may sometimes mean, acknowledging that we do not have the resources for them to continue their education at our school, but allow them to move on to locations that can offer a complete education. I also care about it because I am currently pursuing a degree in special education. When we all strive together to include all students, we make our schools a better place.
References
The Bible. King James Version. You Version app.
Confident Classroom 