I Believe...In Making Decisions As If They Are My Own Children (Installment 3)

In my last post "I Believe...In Working Myself Out of a Job", I referenced creating independence in students to the point where I am no longer needed. To dig a bit deeper, I recall a conversation with a supervisor many years ago.

I was called to an office where my caseload would be reviewed by my supervisor and I would have the opportunity to state my case on a few new students. As we reviewed my caseload student by student, we came upon my most recent student. I had recommended a specific amount of service time based on the student's unique needs and what I knew he required to develop appropriate skills towards independence. My caseload was completely packed and I had no idea how I was going to serve this student. I was asked why I had recommended the service time if I did not have time to provide the services. I was thoroughly confused because I recommended the service time a child requires based on the child's needs, not based on my availability to serve. 

As I continued to state the reasons for the needed service time, I soon become bored with explaining and annoyed with the lack of trust in my recommendation. I ended the conversation with, "I make decisions for my students based on my knowledge, the needs of each child, and the services I would want for my own children". I was immediately told, "That's a pretty high standard!". 

"High standard"...
    "High standard"...
          "High standard"....
This phrase played in my mind over and over as I went about my day.

          Aren't we supposed to have high standards when it comes to educating our youth?

As teachers/therapists/specialists/instructors, our students and their families should sleep soundly knowing that we are working hard to maintain our knowledge and make decisions appropriate for each student. It is our responsibility to continuously think outside the box, ask the hard questions, do the research, try new techniques, push the envelope, question the status quo, and do whatever necessary to help our students LEVEL UP.

If making decisions for my students as if they are my own children is considered a "high standard", then YES, I can and will own the phrase "high standard".

Here's to keeping that "High Standard",
SB
Sarah D. Bussey

We would love to hear about your "High Standards" and how you help your students LEVEL UP! Be sure to comment below.
If you enjoyed this 3rd installment of the "I Believe" Series, you might also enjoy:

https://visionsofblind.blogspot.com/2018/04/i-believein-passion-inspiration.html

https://visionsofblind.blogspot.com/2018/06/i-believe-inworking-myself-out-of-job.html

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