To Our Friends in SpEd

An Editorial by Grayson Milne

The SpEd program does not get much recognition, and there’s not much information on it which, unfortunately, leads to some misinformation on what it’s like.

However, it’s not actually much different from other programs. So, I took a stroll down to room119, the severe SpEd program room. First of all, the classroom seems fun, both in part because of the teachers, and the students as well.

The students work towards their IEP goals to get their certificates of completion. They have different goals but they all work to complete them. The program has them do what all the other students do which is getting them ready for adult life. They learn some important things (math, etc.), but that doesn’t mean they stick to those subjects.

“We love participating in the same activities as everyone else,” says Mrs. Batt, Canyon View's Special Education Teacher. They get to do the fun classes as well – electives and the such – outside of their “main” classroom. They also get to take classes they’re interested in and get to socialize with the other students.

And honestly, they’re good kids. You can ask any of the aids and they’ll tell you they’re really sweet and fun and energetic. So if they’re helping with stuff like making deliveries, or you just see one around, give them a smile or a wave or even say, “Hi.”