Thank you for doing what you do.
You saw a lack in society and went right for it. You have embraced a calling and entered the lives of so many. You are brave, strong souls with an exceptionally tender heart. And because of you parents like us have hope in our children’s future.
It might not be a future of academic distinctions, or one filled with grades, university degrees and Olympiads. It is going to be a future of honest, humble skills which most of the world take for granted. And by lovingly and patiently instructing your students in them you have made yourselves an indispensable part of this future.
While the world gawked helplessly upon a meltdown you intervened and dispelled the storm by your invaluable understanding of a special community. Though the world may frown upon our children’s antics you have not only tolerated but embraced them. You have taught our children sternly and tenderly all at once and braved their unpredictable, stormy moods.
Scarcely could one find glitz and glamour in the work you do. But the true distinction of it resides in the hearts of the people you touched, like the warm, assuring caress of a bed to the weary. Because if you hadn’t heeded your calling, we and our children would have been lost.
There are times when you might feel drained and hollowed. Don’t. We cannot emphasize further the significance of your noble work.
You are amongst the few who are endowed with the faculty to touch human lives and make a difference in them. You are a rare, specialised class of educators; heroines and heroes of a very special community. You believe in our children and you have given us heart, hope and friendship. And though we are but a small part of society our gratitude goes out to you in a big way.
Raising and nurturing our children would have been so much harder without you.
So thank you, Special Education Teachers, for doing what you do.
Photo credit: ladyvee9 via Foter.com