Scott: Special Ed

I sat in my comfortable chair, pivoting back and forth, waiting for the site in Murray to call and set up the video-conferencing I was to facilitate.  It was my first time shooting a class conference-style; with students looking on via the internet from several other sites.  But I wasn’t nervous.  The cameras were already set up and everything else functioned automatically.  My desk faced the students.  My task was to observe.

Unlike the Chemical Engineering class I shot the day before, this course looked to be quite interesting.  At least its perspective.  On my work-order it read simply SPE ED which I was told stood for Special Ed.

The first student arrived ten minutes early.  He was at least one hundred pounds overweight and wore a green-striped shirt that looked good with his brown cap.  I wondered if there are any “special” college students who dress like gangsters or goths.

“Excuse me.  Is there an outlet around here I can plug my laptop into?”

I jumped out of my seat, scanned all the walls and in my most polite voice informed him that there were, but they probably wouldn’t reach his laptop.  I took special care not to talk to him like a child.  He frowned in frustration and sat down.  I wondered if his mom dropped him off.  Nah…  He could probably have a drivers licence… right?

As the class got closer to beginning the other students trickled in.  I was immediately impressed by the relative attractiveness of the bunch, as well as their sense of fashion. 

The professor showed up thirty seconds before the class was to start.  When the two students in Murray indicated they were ready the class began:

“Okay first, are there any questions on the brail for complex fractions?  I know the Benville System is tricky but when you work with these students you will have to be consistent.”