Reverend Father John School has been a force in preparing many special kids to live fulfilling lives. However, schooling for an undergraduate degree in Ghana’s public universities will never be easy for even the brightest regular students. My case was no different as I tackled courses in Special Education specializing in the area of the Intellectually disabled or what we previously referred to as the mentally challenged. During my time in school. I took courses like the Elements of the Brain’s Anatomy which showcased the minds of what potential special kids may go through if I found myself instructing them after school.
It was draining at first but as lectures progressed and semesters rolled by, I got hooked on my books. Schooling was somehow tough also due to the living conditions normalized in Winneba. The high prices of items were so alarming that I had to eat twice a day instead of the recommended three-eating schedule. I needed to be strategic about this as soon as possible in order not to find myself wanting during lecture periods After getting acquainted with a food seller next to my off-campus hostel, my food-related issues were partially managed. However, since I was beginning an internship in Winneba in the next few days, I needed to be more vigilant regarding my lecturer’s remarks at the end of it all. So after preparing myself mentally, this new educational journey began.
I remember getting to the special school with a friend one early morning so as to meet the teachers we would be assisting in our new environment. What we did not know was that most of these students reported to school late and that affected learning. However, since they were intellectually disabled, they were mostly pardoned even if they reported to school late. There was another thing I instantly noticed was how students were neatly dressed for school that morning. An attitude I observed thoroughly was their preparedness to learn. Now once students of this nature got bored or tired during lessons we were told to let them take a break because they lack attention spans which are of abundance to regular learners or students. However, what I was used to was their over-hyperactive nature in the class as well. They never listened effectively and thus shied away from studies. It will take positive and negative reinforcements to bring their minds back to the classroom.
Positive reinforcements often used were both material and verbal. The provision of gifts or presents to attentive students in the class often made other hyperactive students wish to receive the same treatments hence they would begin to focus again. Also by praising some of the attentive students when they answered a question or made a good contribution to the lesson, I realized the less attentive students began to focus again. On a lighter side, most of the students loved cleaning the board for lessons to begin hence I realized that they were taking turns for that most of the time. It was a great way to keep them in check throughout school hours by assuring well-behaved students clean the board at all times.
Negative reinforcement was used as well. One of them was the time-out method which basically meant that disruptive students were placed at the corner of the class and kind of isolated just a bit just to prove a point to them to focus on lessons. This often did not work as effectively as the others because students often saw it as an opportunity to misbehave or even make their way out of the class. Other negative reinforcements were partially denying students the right to receive gifts or items from NGO organizations that graced our school periodically.
So once this teaching phase was to be determined by senior tutors in the school, there was the need to learn the right methodologies for teaching the students well. Also, I needed to be able to adequately manage their behaviors to prevent any injuries in the class. Injuries may stem from fights among the students when there are petty disagreements. Together with my colleagues, I was to spend an entire semester at Father John. I recall on the first day I had the chance to interact with the children and get familiarized with their names and behaviors during lessons and free periods. The way most of these students related with their friends was keenly studied as well. In all, it was tiring because I remember feeling dizzy after standing upright to understudy a student who was hyperactive all day. This hyperactive behavior was evident in some students but this particular student whom I handled exhibited a severe form. He got aggressive and disruptive when I tried managing his behavior and hence I was mostly assisted by the other teachers most of the time.
Sports in a special school also hit differently from regular school situations. Games like soccer, oware, and even ludo which had strict rules seem to be watered down understandably for children with exceptional learning needs. For example, soccer games were more flowing with fewer infringements on the field of play. I often noticed that most of the kids took serious delight in that and hence took soccer matches seriously. These games as I earlier indicated were held on Fridays so everyone could partake in them. Children who could physically engage in vigorous activities were allowed to play soccer while reserved or autistic individuals participated in indoor games. Yes, I played as well and it was one of the most fulfilling moments in my life because I got the chance to put a smile on the faces of people whom society deems uneducable. I brought two clothes on activity-filled days hence after everything, I changed to something more appropriate.
Now food is something that cannot be left in a special school. This was honestly a tough situation on the grounds when I was there but food was being cooked daily for the children. On days when nothing was brought around, I gave out money to cater to the feeding needs of most of the learners. However since things were done well by the headmaster, I would say there was food most of the time. As teachers, we were encouraged to eat the meals brought to encourage the learners to eat as well. Mr Banibah Steven, who mentored me at the time and doubled up as the “Headmaster” was a man of patience. His level of patience for special kids was unmatched and that was an attitude I left with in addition to the teaching methodologies already acquired. Since it was for a semester I also left with many memories and in fact, I still have candid memories about them. In all I was given an A in my Student- Internship at Father John thereby helping my overall grades at the Undergraduate level.
One thing that had been my focus while teaching there was that indeed every child was educable and that was the foresight Adrian Kniel and his wife Christianne had when they initiated the construction of the school in 2003. To me, this was one of the best establishments ever put in Winneba for special children simply because it is the only one as of 2024. Luckily it still functions and runs under the strict guidance of the NGO and the government of Ghana.