Professional Employment – Dilemmas and Limitations in the Perception of Special Education Students

Abstract

The aim of this study is to present the dilemmas and limitations that accompany special education students and are associated with taking up a career in the future. It was vital to get answers to questions about: factors determining work of a special educator; assessment of own theoretical and practical preparation for taking up a job; importance of completed teaching practices; types of difficulties a teacher working with students with disabilities may face; and factors determining the choice of workplace. Empirical research, which was carried out using a categorized interview, covered a group of 43 students, including 40 (93%) women and 3 (7%) men. They were first- and second-year students of part-time second-cycle studies from two universities, namely the Academy of Special Education in Warsaw and the Pedagogical University in Kraków. The obtained results of the research allow to state that the factors determining the work of a special pedagogue include, above all: having a high level of substantive knowledge; individual approach to each student and recognition of his or her needs and capabilities; willingness to help others/pupils; having didactic competences; acquired practice and experience. When assessing the level of their theoretical and practical preparation obtained in the course of education so far, more than half of the respondents described them as very good and good, while others feel deficiencies in this respect. The respondents attach great importance to the pedagogical practices they have implemented, because they: have confirmed that they have made the right choice when undertaking education in a particular field; gave hope for success in future work and achieving good results. The most frequently listed types of difficulties mentioned by the respondents were: starting cooperation with parents or its complete absence; coping with student aggression; difficult or even slight possibility of establishing contact with those with deeper disabilities; severe psychological burden; having large resources of patience and commitment to the performed work; frequent physical exhaustion. On the other hand, the most important factors determining the choice of workplace were: earnings; good, friendly atmosphere in the workplace; distance from home; experienced teaching staff willing to assist; possibility of further education and continuous development; easy access to the workplace.