What was wrong with my remark?

Question

My education class was doing observation in an elementary school, and today the whole floor smelled... guess some kid had an accident. So, I told some random teacher "I am used to it, I am special ed." For some reason she took offense, and said "We don't say that around here." I stil can't understand what was wrong with my comment. Can anyone explain it to me?

Answer 1

You have to remember that most special education teachers grow very attached to their students, of all levels. I don't believe most teachers would take offense for any reason other then you are a visitor in their room and they are protective of their students. As you will be when you complete you education class and become a teacher. I work with all cognitive levels of special education and their truly isn't enough time in the world to be that sensitive and give these very special and gifted students the education they need to succeed. This teacher or aide gives the impression with their statement that they are ashamed.Don't let anyone else dictate your career, especially a teacher or aide that is ashamed of special education. These students are exceptional and have so much more to share then people give them credit for, the students I work with say they are Special Ed. because they aren't ashamed, they are proud of the obstacles they have overcome. Don't let someone else make you ashamed. Keep going!!!

Answer 2

Google people first language. wait, let me just give you a link

http://www.disabilityisnatural.com/peopl...

As someone mentioned, your statement had a lot of presumption (one, that it was an accident of some sort, two, that it was a special ed student, and three, your self-labeling of 'special ed') I assume there was some sort of conversation about the smell before, because your comment makes no sense out of the blue, 'it' could have been anything from the smell, to the lights, to the behavior.

Not only that, but you were speaking about students presumably while they were in the room. While you think that they don't understand, many of them do, even if they cannot communicate it. Your comment of the smell, and the description of special, could have been very hurtful to any one of them. While they cannot communicate that, it can manifest in self-loathing, depression, self mutilation, and other incidents of unsocial behaviors. They are people before anything else (hence the name of people first language) and are deserving of your respect. It borders on the insensitivity of a doctor discussing improperly the eating habits of an overweight person with the nurse while she's on the scale.

Answer 3

First, you assumed a kid had an accident

Then you assumed it was a special ed kid

Then you made a blanket statement about all special ed kids (they make awful smells)

Maybe the US president came by and farted.

Maybe the valedictorian got suddenly sick

Maybe it was a stink bomb

Maybe it was some car exhaust

Maybe it was a chem lab experiment

Maybe the sewer backed up

See my point?

Certain topics are very sensitive.

You may have been desensitized because you have had to deal with a difficult situation.

But not all special ed kids have accidents.

And not all bad smells are accidents

And not all special ed teachers have to manage p**p accidents

Generally you can be assured that if you cannot say it at the dinner table, or randomly in the principles office, then count to 100 and think the whole time before you say it.

Its OK to make mistakes....its just a tough way to learn. But now you know!!!!!

Good luck!

Answer 4

It shows a lack of sensitivity, that's all.

Answer 5

It shows that you're not PC enough to work in public schools.

Answer 6

I teach regular ed and special ed classes and I know you sometimes have to lighten the mood, but you just have to watch who you say non PC remarks to.  For instance, I would never have said something like that to a parent of a spec. ed kid, which this teacher may have been.

Answer 7

That suggests that it is normal in Special Education classes to have the smell of urine present. Actually, in 21 years of work in Special Ed. classes, I can't EVER recall smelling urine on a floor in a classroom! The children were either toilet-trained, or they had diapers, changed regularly.

It is actually UNUSUAL to have that, so it is not only not quite true, for the most part, but is an insult to the thousands of Special Education students who have never had a toilet accident in school.

Answer 8

If you would have said that to a seasoned special ed. teacher, she probably would have chuckled, politically correct or not.  Other teachers don't recognize all the nasty stuff we have to deal with - especially on the bad days.  You'll learn soon enough who takes their jobs way too seriously and who can roll with the comments.  :)  

Being that she was a random teacher, there's no telling what she thought of you.  She might have thought you were trying to make a special ed. joke directed at the kids rather than the "professional duties" we have.

Answer 9

maybe she thought it wasn't nice to mention it....i don' t know, i don't think there's anythign wrong with it. that teacher takes offense too easily.

Answer 10

Well, you said the Special Ed students smell.  Not only that, but special ed students are dirty and smelly.