"As I enter my 13th year of teaching, I have seen many changes in what really is such a short time, but what stands out to me the most is what our schools are currently facing.

"I teach high-school students with emotional, behavioral, and learning disorders and traumatic brain injuries, as well as students with autism spectrum disorder and ADD/ADHD. I have watched as programs have been cut, teachers and paraeducators have been laid off, and the fine arts—which includes music, foods, and so much more—have also been cut. My students have lost the classes they need in order to fundamentally survive and be functional citizens in this country.

"Now we are judged by the test scores our children receive. Q comp has passed in our district in order to save programs, which means the government is in control of all of our lives and now controls what our children are taught. Is this accountability? Can LD students who may make leaps in one year truly pass a test that they have difficulty reading? Can my traumatic brain injury students be tested on information when they have no recognition skills? The questions are endless ... and the answer is no.

"This year I heard from one of my students who happened to be in jail. He said, 'Ms. Miller, I wish I would have listened to you. Had I not dropped out of school, I would not be where I am. My only wish is that I could have had at least one class that I enjoyed walking into every day.' This student was an artist, a tremendous artist. Our art department was cut one year prior, due to ESEA and the district's focus on AYP."

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