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I majored in special education and I feel very frustrated by the system. I am in my first year after graduation and I'm already starting to regret it. I mean I enjoy working with the kids, but the system makes me want to leave. I sometimes wonder if I would have been better off if I picked a different major :/
I know quite a bit if people who went into teaching who really regret going into it due to the system. It is set up to be so generic that there is very little room for creativity in teaching to inspire true learning.
In regular ed, you're forced to teach to a test and in the process, overlook the unique needs of your students to rush everyone along as soon as possible to the next grade.
In special ed (I used to be an assistant in the special ed department in my school and volunteered at a special needs daycare), you have to do IEPs, you have to deal with uncooperative parents who don't want to continue the lesson at home, you have to deal with the constraints of school rules intended to please the public as well as funding...
Our education system is a mess. That's why they desperately need good teachers like you to ease the pain for many of these students who have to be shuffled through. I applaud your effort.
EXACTLY! Unfortunately I am usually stressed because I am either "too difficult" on the students trying to prepare them for the test or I am "too easy" and provide too many accommodations. We need to fix it for sure. I am so worried about our kids today and what will happen to our nation.
My uncle was a history major and now he's a millionaire working in finance and investment. It really doesn't matter *that* much what you studied, it just matters that you're educated. From there you just need to apply yourself in the real world. Try to expand your horizons. What made you want to study special ed? How can you apply that passion and what you learned in school to a different occupation, one that suits you better?
But yes, its normal. Everyone changes, and not everything that is interesting to study translates immediately into a job that you would want to have. Right now I'm an econ major. But I don't really want to be an economist. There's not that many economist jobs out there anyway. If I stick with this major I'll have to get creative and apply what I've learned differently.
I wanted to study special ed because I like working with people, I want to make a difference, and I like psychology. I want to make a lot of money so I can start all sorts of non-profits and support individuals with special needs. Your story is inspiring. :)
If you want to make a lot of money, simply being a special ed teacher isn't really the right way to go about it.
I'd suggest you start looking into other avenues to apply your education after you've gotten a few years of teaching under your belt. Maybe get a business degree in the meantime so you can start your own center for the special needs or run one, anyway.
What do you mean you hate the system? Are you saying you hate how the special ed system works? Psychology has the same attitude of dealing with people.
The best way to fight the system is to be part of it.(SLC Punk)
Maybe you can fight the system and make it better some day? Even if it means breaking a few rules for the better good. Of course, you might want to build your reputation up before you go too far.