Okay, maybe “stupid” isn’t the right word, but I don’t know what to call it. Okay, here’s the deal (long story follows):
I work with people with developmental disabilities. The people I specifically work with are adults who have (or are working towards having) a job in the community. I have a fancier sounding title, but basically I’m a job coach. I help them learn their jobs.
Here’s my complaint. A lot of people misunderstand what I do, and the people I work with. I get a lot of: “Oh, you must be an angel,” or “You must have the patience of a saint.” Sometimes I’ll get, “So, are they allowed to eat what they want?” or “Do any of them talk?” When I take my guys to the store, the cashiers love to talk to them like they’re five years old. My grandma always asks how my “kids” are doing.
Here’s my response:
I love my job. It tries my patience probably as much as any job. I think accountants and doctors must have the patience of saints. I couldn’t do those jobs no matter how much you paid me. Our clients are normal people who happen to have disabilities in some areas, and live their lives as fully as they can. They are not children.
I know that doctors get asked medical questions all the time, and I’m sure that lawyers, accountants, etc., get asked professional advice constantly. But does anyone have one of those jobs (like mine) that no one seems to understand?
BTW, if this sounds like a rant, I’m sorry. I’m in a funky mood at the moment. If this belongs in the Pit, feel free to kick it on over there.
Just in case anybody is unclear on what teachers do: THEY TEACH!!!
They are not babysitters. They are not child psychologists. They are not prison guards. They are not anger management specialists. They are not religious indoctrinators…and they sure as Hell should not be scapegoats for bad parents.
Jeannie, I can imagine that it would get irritating to hear what sounds like patronizing things about your job, but turn it around, and maybe it wouldn’t be so hard to hear. They WOULDN’T do the job, they can’t imagine who would, so they imagine it would ‘take a saint’ rather than just someone who cares about people. Which is all they are. They have the same needs, wants, and dreams of all of us. We tend to look for the ‘differences’ in others rather than the fact we have so much more in common.
Ursa, I’m with you, teachers are told to be everything to their students while they keep up with their own curriculum/grading/paperwork/getting further degrees/meetings and they are supposed to be able to tell who is dangerous and who is not. Parents are the ones that are supposed to be in charge, and they don’t act like it much of the time. It’s a selfless profession and you get dumped on much too much.