So, howdy folks! Today all the accepted/pending members of the GSE “Class of 2017” (although we have separate programs, to some extent that holds weight) met with the academic advisers and professional staff members to discuss the program and their expectations.
And boy, was it a wake up call.
While we covered a great deal of material, the two things that shook me the most were: 1) I’m going to be a teacher and possibly in charge of a classroom in 28 months, and 2) I might seek a secondary certification through a special education program.
Special Ed. has always been an odd topic for me, as I have been partially critical of the handling of the matter through “tracks” that in some ways hinder the development of students with special needs. As a student who, one could argue, qualifies as “special needs”, I have always found an integrated classroom to be more beneficially compared to a separate track. Additional staff support would be necessary, but it would expose said students to greater forms of the material and potentially spark something in them.
To get that certification, though, I need to take an additional seven courses, one of which will be taken AFTER my graduation in May 2017. New Jersey looks favorably on such certification, and since I want to actually get a job and begin my career as soon as possible, I most likely will end up pursuing it.
Guess there goes my carefree, more relaxed senior year. Oh well. Time to take a howl at that moon, friends. Good luck, and good night.
Ryan Pugliese 