more NCLB crap - how highly qualified are you to do your job?

[ulysses]

(yes, rant follows)

So, this summer, we found out that, in order to keep our jobs in the classroom, we had to become "highly qualified" under No Child Left Behind. This basically means proving to the state that we know what the hell we're talking about when it comes to the subject matter we teach.

Makes sense, right? General ed teachers are already required to be certified in their subject area. But here's the rub - special ed teachers have traditionally been certified in how to teach children with disabilities, not necessarily in the subject areas.

Next rub? Because my school is one of the few in the country that still does self-contained special ed, I teach all four core middle school subjects. Then, because we have a school reform model that requires that all teachers (including coaches) teach reading, I have to become "highly qualified" in math, language arts, science, social studies AND reading. This in addition to being a trained special ed teacher.

For the four core subjects, I can pass a standardized test in November and be good to go. I doubt that I'd pass the reading Praxis, though, so I'm taking a reading endorsement course that will run through the middle of May, every Wednesday night from 4:45 to 8:45. I want to know when my pay will go up, given all these qualifications.

But even that's not the real turd in the punchbowl. Early this week, our principal, as a requirement of NCLB, sent letters to the parents of students of eleven teachers at my school (all general ed as far as I can tell) informing those parents that their kids are being taught by teachers who are not "highly qualified". Several teachers were in tears, fearing for their jobs, some kids got ahold of the letters and were trying to use them against the teachers, and, because my school is what it is, several other students were threatening to go get guns and start shooting to protect the jobs of their favorite teachers.

Yes, fuck George and the goddamned horse he rode in on, but there's this as well - I don't want to hear another Democratic candidate for federal office talk about the need to "reform" NCLB. I want the fucker repealed.

[CottonBear]

1. My god. I had no idea the situation was this dire. I am so sorry.

I can hardly believe the school "has to send" those letters. I hope that everything will be OK for you, your school and the students.

NCLB should be thrown out immediately when a Democrat wins the presidency along with all of the other Bu$sh crap like the patriot act.

PS: Is that Baby Ulysses?

[ulysses]

4. most folks don't.

We need to help people understand what the law is doing to our most vulnerable kids.

PS: Is that Baby Ulysses?

Indeed it is. :) That's his "Magoo" look. :hi:

[CottonBear]

6. Well he is a cutie pie! Congratulations!

I like the "Magoo" look! :) :hi:

We all need to fight the evil Republicans in order to make the schools great places for our children to learn and for teachers to teach.

[ulysses]

31. thanks!

:D

[LWolf]

59. I'm sorry.

If you had no idea, you couldn't have been listening. At least not to teachers. Much like the rest of the * agenda, Democratic opposition has been inconsistent and weak. Many Democrats fully support NCLB. In all likelihood, a Dem president or congress would not "throw it out." Not unless it becomes an issue for mainstream dem voters, and not just teachers.

NCLB is one of the key issues that have left me feeling angry, disenfranchised, and betrayed by the Democratic Party. This is why so many of us voted on the "ABB" principle.

Public education has become a scapegoat for political agendas and for the social dysfunction of conservative america. It's time for the Democratic Party to take a stand; if not, expect the coming generation of voters to be well-programmed, obedient little voters who know how to "fill in the bubble" as they're told, but don't expect much in the way of independent thinking. If you want a populace who can analyze, synthesize, and come to independent conclusions, it is past time to release public ed from the right-wing stranglehold we're in.

[msongs]

2. parasites and leeches run the state ed bureaucracies...same in CA

if we could take the hundreds of millions of dollars spent to prop up the welfare recipients who run the ed system above the district level, and spend that money on schools...one could only imagine.

now in CA the retarded kids take a 'standardized' test called CAPA. Deaf kids have to given verbal answers to verbal questions, people who cannot read anything have to give answers to written questions, kids who cannot point to the correct choice of two things have to select the correct choice from a dozen things.

All this provides money and jobs to the people who create the tests, collect the tests, score the tests, data base the tests, distribute test results that say: "guess what your class is full of retarded kids"'

and then they average those scores into the scores of "normal" kids,
your school site's scores go down, and voila, your school is a failure.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/clark2008.htm

BTW - your state can chuck the whole NCLB crap by refusing to accept the feds money.

[erinlough]

9. Worse in Michigan

only 2% of your school population can be qualified for the special education test. In my population of 18% of the general school population that means all my students no matter their reading level must take the standard test for normal students.

On top of that every student who scores the lowest gets a 4. Every student who scores the highest gets a 1. These scores are then averaged for a school score. Do the math, the poorest performing students cost us four high performing students. WE CAN'T WIN and this law was meant to make public schools fail, and we will I promise you, all your schools will.

[ulysses]

12. yup.

That pretty much sums it up. Folks need to wake up to the danger to public ed.

[MichiganVote]

56. Plus, in Michigan, no matter when or from where a student enters

the system, their scores count against the rest of the kids who have attended and been a part of a research based curriculum. So, if a kid from Katrina is homeless and traumatized---their scores count. Home schooled with God knows what---their scores count. No special services in another district despite a cum file rife with poor academics and little remediation---their scores count.

In Michigan, educators and students are being screwed out of what NCLB was supposed to do---account for student achievement.

[merwin]

3. That's horrible!

The school should add to their "not highly qualified" statement the fact that it is according to NCLB, and not a statement of fact about the teacher.

That's getting pretty damn close to slander, if you ask me :)

[ulysses]

that might be in there.

I don't know.

[erinlough]

5. I hear you, after 32 years and a couple of awards

I'm in the same boat. I do have the option of teaching in an inclusion classroom though. I took the practice tests and should do OK, but with about 5 years to go I think I'll take the easy way and do what they want us to.

In our small middle school we all teach in our major area and share the fourth core area. That means many of us were not highly qualified. The trouble is we are a small school but not small enough to get the exemption offered by the government.

Not enough? All of us oldtimers got degrees that certified us to teach all subjects K-7. The Federal law simply said those degrees don't count anymore. You have to have a major. Fine, except in Michigan in the 70's the universities said you could get one major or three minors to graduate, therefore anyone who chose the three minor route......is not highly qualified.

This is a ploy to get old teachers to retire. I'm 52, love kids, love teaching and they can kiss my a**. I will be here when NCLB and *W* are gone.

[ulysses]

7. it's a ploy to force inclusion.

I have no problem with inclusion where it's warranted, but it's not what all kids need.

I've heard about the consultative thing - no thanks, not in my second year in public schools. :)

32 years? You have my deepest respect.

[tnlefty]

8. My favorite special ed instructor that I dealt with in relation to my

kids has a masters degree in special ed and she was wonderful. I do know that other really good teachers in my kids' schools left or were fired because under NCLB more money was available to the schools if they hired teachers who were pursuing a teaching certificate, or a degree. I was raising hell about that at the time, but not to many other parents were inclined to actually give a rip. NCLB seems to reward substandard teachers in some cases, while other teachers are crapped on. A friend of mine, who teaches high school, with 18 yrs. experience, and a masters degree, who has always taken refresher courses at her own expense was on the verge on being considered unqualified last year. WTF?? Really!!! I'm sorry, but I just don't get it.

[ulysses]

10. it all makes sense

when you realize that the GOP is simply looking for a pretense to privatize the public schools wholesale.

[napi21]

18. I still don't understand. Are they trying to eliminate all the teachers

in the public school system so it can't survive?

How the hell can you privatize all the schools? I know what the Private schools cost where my grandkids live, and at %6,000/yr per kid, who would be able to go to school?

Please explaine this to me.

[erinlough]

22. They are trying to destroy Public Schools and

break the teacher's union.

[ulysses]

24. 'who would be able to go to school?'

Who indeed? Remember, these are Republicans we're talking about.

[sandnsea]

11. Parents wanted this for high school

We didn't want history teachers teaching algebra. How they can take a reasonable parental concern and turn it into this monstrosity is beyond me.

So you're hangin' in for another year, huh? Good for you. This year will be a snap, you're an old pro now! :hug:

[ulysses]

13. a snap? no.

Yes, I'm hanging in there. We had a golden opportunity to make real and positive change this year, but we're on track to have an even worse year than last. But I'm staying. These kids need someone who gives a rat's ass.

How they can take a reasonable parental concern and turn it into this monstrosity is beyond me.

Pretty easily, it would seem. Parents need to wake up to what's happening, or free and appropriate public education will be a thing of the past.

[sandnsea]

20. That was a joke

Haha, second year, old pro...

Did I ever tell you about the parent who didn't even know she was supposed to go talk to teachers? Back in 1978 or so, her son was 10. I forget what the problem was, but it never even occurred to her to go talk to the teacher or principal. She literally didn't know it was expected for her to be involved. She thought she was supposed to just send her child to school and stay out of the school's business. I'm not sure there aren't still parents like that. Do you have a PTA going?

[ulysses]

28. oh.

Do you have a PTA going?

Of course. We were required to go to the meetings last year - teachers outnumbered the parents, by a huge margin. Of course, in the neighborhood in question, it's not so much a question of ignorance as it is of apathy.

[sandnsea]

32. I remember now

We did have that discussion. :)

[ulysses]

35. did we?

Sorry - I'm a little foggy right now. :)

[sandnsea]

37. Pretty sure

Said I thought functioning school PTA's should mentor inner city school PTA's, wondered if there was some way for my school to adopt your school, stuff like that. Or maybe I'm the one who's foggy and I was chatting with someone else, who knows.

[napi21]

14. What is Shrub REALLY trying to do with these requirements?

My experience with many teachers over the years was not that they weren't qualified, but that a few had poor attitudes, and a few were somewhat lazy. I'm talking about a lot of years and a lot of teachers, so I see that situation as normal for any profession. This testing won't cure any of it!

What are they really trying to do with these new requirements?

[ulysses]

15. see #10. n/t

[erinlough]

19. I think they want Public Schools dead.

Think of it. Right now educating all our children in this country is expensive for the government. They could get rid of it for most students except for those who can't go to a private school because their parents don't have enough money to add to the voucher. Those cast-offs would be in public schools, underfunded and forgotten. They will be black and hispanic, poor, special ed students, disenfranchised and left behind.

Meanwhile lucrative no bid contracts for supplies and services will be given to private companies to provide what now is local decision. People stand to make a great deal of money privatizing public schools. Follow the Money.

This is starting now with for profit schools in Michigan and other states. Universities in Michigan are making 3% of the tax money for sponsering charter schools. They pay teachers much less. There is no union. Follow the money.

Parents don't know and, I presume, don't care enough to find out about this....so...It will happen I'm afraid.

[libnnc]

16. God that's crappy!!

I've just been accepted as a sub teacher here in NC. I've got a BA in History from UNC-Greensboro and I'm thinking about teaching as a profession. I hear the school systems scream and cry about the teacher shortage and on the other hand I hear about school systems trying to keep up with NCLB guidlines (no one is qualified enough!). I want to ask these school systems which is it? Do you all want available college educated folks like me, ready, willing and able to work or do you want to pick and choose?

I hate it for you. I wish they'd relax the qualifications and let you folks teach or at least make the quals attainable in a decent amount of time. I'd work in a heartbeat, but just having a college degree from a major, accredited university isn't good enough anymore.

[ulysses]

17. it's not the systems' fault.

Not that they don't have their faults, but this shit is strictly federal and Republican.

If you feel it, teach. The schools do need good teachers, desperately. Just be prepared to have it consume your life for a while.

[libnnc]

21. That's why I'm trying subbing

so I can get my feet wet. I'm also looking to go to grad school next fall. I just hate that NCLB won't allow teachers to 'teach' anymore. It's not fair that you have to worry about test results. In NC there are thousands of ESL students in the system who are new to the community. Many times their parents don't speak english and they are expected to perform at the same level as native speaking students. It's not fair to them and when they perform poorly because of the language barrier, it reflects on the teachers and the school systems.

I know I won't be able to 'teach to the test'. That's what's made me think twice about getting my certification. If teaching were like it was when I was a kid, I'd be in the classroom already.

[erinlough]

26. Tough call

If you love it, do it. Be aware though that there are other requirements like 5 additional hours every so many years.

Teaching to the test is a fact. When high stakes testing became a way of life that became a reality.

That said I have always felt blessed to be allowed to be a part of a student's life and I wouldn't want to do anything else.

[sandnsea]

23. Not a teaching degree?

Sorry, I think a teacher should be educated in teaching. It's not just knowing your subject or just knowing education, it's both and I think school districts should hire teachers accordingly.

[ulysses]

25. hmm. should they pay them accordingly as well? n/t

[erinlough]

29. If you read the law, there is an

interesting caveat at the end that allows anyone with service time in the military to take a fast track to teaching and bypass some of the requirements. Interesting no?

Sorry Ulysses, this should have been in response to the post above yours, however, they will never pay us what we are worth. You and I know that.

[ulysses]

30. but not surprising.

They teach phonemic awareness and number sense in the Army now? :eyes:

[sandnsea]

33. doh

You didn't need to ask me that, you know I support teachers.

[ulysses]

38. my dander's up.

I have stuff I need to be doing tonight, and will likely do before I eventually go to bed, but I need to vent now. I don't think most folks have the first vague idea what is happening in education these days, and we're facing a real crisis, especially where disadvantaged and special ed kids are concerned. My apologies.

[libnnc]

27. I took all the teaching courses

required, I just didn't take the Praxis exam and didn't go through a year of student teaching (would have made me graduate a year late). :shrug:

edit to add,

now that I think about it, subbing and grad school might not be a bad idea afterall. With substitute teaching, I can pick and choose when and where I work, I'm almost guarenteed a job almost every day (big school system here). And I don't have to worry about office politics. That's you full-time certified folks' problem.

[ulysses]

34. let me put it this way.

I career-surfed through my twenties and early thirties - taught for five years in private schools, worked in bookstores, was in IT for a while. I'm in a public school because that's where I have to be. I teach because it's what I am. I can't imagine doing anything else now.

I damned sure wouldn't put up with this bullshit otherwise.

Like I say, if you feel it, we need you. The kids need you.

[libnnc]

39. Well, I really feel like I can be of use

I'm just not feeling the BS admin crap right now. Both my aunts are retired teachers (middle/HS and primary). I've done everything from wash dishes to sell pianos for a living. I had to work my butt off to get through college after a 10 year gap. I'd really like to teach at the university level (boy is THAT pie in the sky...) But I want to do something with the degree I have. I just haven't jumped through the right hoops yet.

[ulysses]

40. I know, it's a lot.

It's even more once you're in.

Then again, I have this really spectacular group of kids who are genuinely happy when I come back after being gone for a while like with our adoption. Occasionally, you get through, and that makes up for a whole lot. They're the reason you do it, not the hoops. :)

[sandnsea]

36. I see

Yes, in that instance, some sort of waivers should be made available, especially in high needs areas.

[nvliberal]

54. There are SO many unemployed teachers,

there should be special certification programs for those already certified in other fields.

Here in my county school district, special ed hires who are not certified in special ed are put in a three-year program to get their credentials. Some of the classes are through the university, and some are in the district.

It's about seven additional classes.

We need to employ the REAL teachers first, then worry about anybody left.

Trust me, if there weren't the hodgepodge of hoops and requirements in each state discouraging out-of-state teachers to relocate, and if pensions were portable from state-to-state, there'd be NO "shortage" at all of teachers.

[nvliberal]

53. The problem with subbing is obvious.

The pay is shit, and there are typically no benefits at all.

Furthermore, if we are going to be worried about having "qualifed teachers" in the classroom, then substitutes should not be allowed in the classroom who are not fully certified teachers or at least have a bachelor's degree (as in Oregon). The pay should be at least $150 a day with insurance and retirement.

If school districts and states were really serious about it, they'd do it. Then watch the shortage of substitutes disappear.

[libnnc]

55. I'm not exactly doing backflips

looking forward to this subbing gig. It's a whopping $63 a day for degreed people. No benefits. But I'm willing to try it.

You want the help? Here I am.

[Tatiana]

41. NCLB is just an excuse to funnel $$$ from public to private education.

I had a special teaching certificate and was informed that I was not "highly-qualified" for basically the same reasons you illustrate above. Sure, I could have gotten certification in ohhhh Language Arts, but honestly I didn't see the point.

As a teacher, you are in a constant state of professional development. There are numerous conferences, seminars, trainings for new curriculum adoptions. Teachers are ALWAYS improving their instructional methods and keeping abreast of the latest strategies for teaching our students. I don't know about other states, but mine (Illinois) requires teachers to have a certain number of professional development units in order to maintain their certification. Now you want us to become certified/endorsed in individual subjects? What if you are a bilingual teacher, who must cover Language Arts, Social Science, and Math? You attend the professional development trainings for all of these subjects. You had to have taken courses in these subjects to get your initial teaching certificate.

But now you want us to get certifcation in Math, Social Science, and Language Arts on top of the teaching certificates and endorsements in native language instruction we already have?

Pray tell, when are we supposed to find the time to attend classes to complete the additional coursework (presenting information that we likely already know)? And who will pay for all these classes, textbook and testing fees?

The government wants us to have "highly-qualified" professional staff with an average starting salary of somewhere around $33,000. Raise the starting salaries for teachers and pay them the way you do other professionals such as doctors, nurses, and lawyers -- then we can talk about "highly-qualified staff."

Personally, I decided to come out of the classroom and get a school service personnel certificate. I make a bit more than I did teaching and have half the stress. At the same time, I feel guilty because the men and women we entrust the education of our children to deserve so much more.

What will happen is that if schools cannot meet the requirements of "highly-qualified" teaching staff, parents will be given vouchers to send their children to private school. The goal is to gradually defund public education and redirect education funds to the private sector. Because of NCLB, we are losing the talents of so many innovative teachers who employ creative methods in order to provide our children with the knowledge they need to compete nationally and internationally. Now we are just teaching to a test so that our schools can be said to be making "AYP" (Adequate Yearly Progress). There is no time to emphasize critical thinking skills, reasoning, uncoventional problem-solving -- because we are so busy teaching our kids to make it through hours upon hours of unnecessary testing.

The sponsors of this legislation as well as those who voted for it need to ask themselves the question: "Is our children learning?"

(Sorry for the long rant. NCLB needs to be totally amended or repealed. I hope someone, possibly Senator Kennedy, will have the guts to revisit this awful unfunded mandate.)

[libnnc]

42. A beautiful rant. Amen!!

Did you read the post someone wrote about Bill Bennett? He plainly stated in 1996 that he didn't want anymore money going to improve public schools because he (and the neo-cons) wants the public school to crumble from within? That's exactly what this administration wants--and they want it to happen to all other federal agencies--from the FAA to the Social Security Administration. It's sick. Just sick. :cry:

[ulysses]

44. excellent rant indeed. I think we need to walk out.

A day, a week, a month. Long enough to get someone's attention. What are they going to do, replace us with folks even LESS highly qualified?

[Tatiana]

48. A National Strike.

Something. Seriously, we need to take this to Congress. We need to open up congressional hearings on the effects of this legislation upon our educational system.

Improving education is not rocket science. Pay teachers as the professionals they are and you will attract a more dedicated and qualified pool of people wanting to go into the field. If you want an educated population, it's going to cost, but not as much as you would think.

Allow teachers from across the nation, experienced, expert teachers, to develop curriculum and pay them differentials to write textbooks. This would save a lot of money versus the millions of dollars we giveaway to textbook and software companies (usually Republican). Sponsor teacher exchange programs to nations that export the top students. Study the models of those educational systems to see what would work here in the U.S.

Eliminate the hours upon hours of standardized testing. Twice a year is fine, but 5 - 8 times per academic year is ridiculous when you think about the time spent prepping for the exams, familiarizing students with the format, and administering these exams. Students often suffer from testing fatigue and I doubt that most of those scores are even reliable by the time you get to the third and fourth rounds of testing. Most of all this cuts into INSTRUCTIONAL TIME!

We need a national movement on the part of our educators to educate the public regarding the effects of NCLB on our children.

[ulysses]

49. hell with congress. we need to take it

to the folks who are depending on the schools for their kids' futures.

[LWolf]

60. But this is Senator Kennedy's baby.

NCLB, and all of it's state versions, don't need amendment. They need to be repealed. Don't look for any help from dems; the rhetoric about "closing the achievement gap" suits them, and makes them look like they care. The fact that it is bullshit, and that the "achievement gap" is actually widening, is beside the point.

This is a great rant. From the classroom, here's the answer to your question:

No. Our childrent "isn't" learning more than they did before the "standards and accountability movement" that spawned NCLB. At least, they aren't learning more of the skills I want public ed to be about: independent thinking, problem-solving, critical research and analysis, cooperation, etc.. They are certainly learning not to think, not to question, that the bubbles they fill in on their tests are god, that learning is boring, sometimes painful, and always a chore disconnected from their real lives. They are mastering those lessons.

[Rowdyboy]

43. My guy missed 7 days due to school closures after Katrina....It was bad...

No water, no electricity, no gas. With the new students from the coast, he has a class load of 160+ (state law mandates no more than 120 or so but who the fuck cares-they're only teachers) and the local superintendent says they must make up all the missed time before next June.

My guy is entering his 30th year teaching and is making decent money for the first time in his life. I am BEGGING him to give it up because its destroying him. He's a really good teacher, but I'm afraid that doesn't matter much anymore. Its too much trouble to tolerate.

[ulysses]

45. and it won't get any better

until people demand that it does. Again, people need to wake the hell up.

[Sgent]

46. Self delete

[ulysses]

47. ...

In at least 3 states I'm familiar with, any teacher with a degree in special ed is considered highly qualified for teaching any special ed class.

I'd be considered highly qualified with what I have now, but only as a "consultative" teacher - i.e., I couldn't have students on my own caseload, couldn't do pullout resource classes, etc. I'd essentially be a glorified teacher's aide. That's not Georgia, that's NCLB.

[Sgent]

51. Tennesse, MS, and MN

all allow master's degreed special ed teachers to be HCE's. I know TN and MS do not have consultative teachers at least as regards teaching special ed.

I know that for a fact at least on the secondary level for TN because my mother just went through this in TN. She researched the other above mentioned states, and they also have the same rule.

With a dual bachelor in History & English, and a Master in Special Ed (General), she was qualified to be an HCE in teaching math and science to special ed students.

[ulysses]

52. ah, the irony.

I've already been accepted to Georgia State for my master's in behavior and learning disabilities, but, because of the reading endorsement requirement (we have to be highly qualified by next June) I'm putting off starting the coursework until next fall in order to save my sanity.

I have a dual bachelor's in philosophy and mathematics, so I suspect I'd be fine for the math portion, but it's a moot point in my case. And I don't have enough years to go the HOUSSE route.

[Tatiana]

50. This is a gray area.

Special Education Teachers

The highly qualified teacher requirements apply only to teachers providing direct instruction in core academic subjects. Special educators who do not directly instruct students in core academic subjects or who provide only consultation to highly qualified teachers in adapting curricula, using behavioral supports and interventions or selecting appropriate accommodations, do not need to demonstrate subject-matter competency in those subjects.

Congress, in the context of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) reauthorization, is considering modifying how the highly qualified teacher provisions of NCLB apply to special education teachers. The Department looks forward to working with Congress in addressing this need.

---------------------------------------------

(What is "highly qualified?")

Highly Qualified Teachers: To be deemed highly qualified, teachers must have: 1) a bachelor's degree, 2) full state certification or licensure, and 3) prove that they know each subject they teach.

State Requirements: NCLB requires states to 1) measure the extent to which all students have highly qualified teachers, particularly minority and disadvantaged students, 2) adopt goals and plans to ensure all teachers are highly qualified and, 3) publicly report plans and progress in meeting teacher quality goals.

Demonstration of Competency: Teachers (in middle and high school) must prove that they know the subject they teach with: 1) a major in the subject they teach, 2) credits equivalent to a major in the subject, 3) passage of a state-developed test, 4) HOUSSE (for current teachers only, see below), 5) an advanced certification from the state, or 6) a graduate degree.

High, Objective, Uniform State Standard of Evaluation (HOUSSE): NCLB allows states to develop an additional way for current teachers to demonstrate subject-matter competency and meet highly qualified teacher requirements. Proof may consist of a combination of teaching experience, professional development, and knowledge in the subject garnered over time in the profession.

-------------------------------------------------

http://www.ed.gov/nclb/methods/teachers/hqtflexibility.html

[Nikki Stone 1]

57. We need 4 votes to get this to GREATEST--and THIS needs to be

NCLB has been a DISASTER since its signing. It undermines schools and teachers.

[LWolf]

58. Singing my song.

Perhaps your voice will be more persuasive than mine; I've been howling at the "reform" piece, and at Democratic support for NCLB, since its infancy in Texas, CA, Florida, and other states under republican governors. I've howled louder since it reached Washington with *.

Who listens? Not mainstream democrats or their reps in congress.

[Lorax]

61. Makes me worried too...

Especially since I can't get any answers from anyone at my university. I am a career changer, I'm back in college finishing up my undergrad degree. I'm majoring in Elementary Special Education. I want to teach the little guys, no way do I want to work in the middle school level. I'm also leaning pretty heavily toward working with children with severe and profound disabilities, meaning I'll likely be working in a self-contained special ed school.

Now I'm worried because I'm wondering if when I graduate in a year with my SPED degree, it's going to be pretty much worthless. Am I going to have to be a subject specialist in addition to my special ed degree? I intend to go to grad school anyway, but I was going to do more SPED work. Do I have to get a grad degree in one of the core subjects? No one seems to be able to answer my questions.

I get very frustrated with the amount of BS we have to put up with in school and the BS I hear constantly about NCLB. I just keep reminding myself that it's all about the kids and how much I've enjoyed subbing in the special ed classroom. Still it's nerve wracking when I consider that I left a career to go back to school for this.