Rough day

Well today was the day I needed to dig out the NVCI (non violent crisis intervention) training I had a few weeks back. It's been a long week at school. We have a female student that is really struggling with what we think is some mental illness and gets mad really easy when she is pushed to do something she doesn't want to do. We have tried numerous strategies with her and she is a tough cookie to figure out. She goes into episodes of rage in an almost out of body experience. The week started off with this particular student acting out on Monday and Tuesday and eventually ending up in a rage that resulted in a 2 day suspension from school and the police called in to assist my coworkers. I work closely with this girl and have developed a bond with her in just the 1/2 hour a day I am with her. It so sad to see her hurting herself and others and something that a girl her age shouldn't have to be dealing with. I am just hoping they get her the help she needs. Today I thought would be better seeing as she was gone. However, I ended up having to assist my coworkers in the restraint of a autistic student twice today. The first situation I had no choice but to jump in and help a coworker that was getting slapped and bit. At that particular moment the other teachers and staff were busy calming another student that had escalated to the point they had to take him to our "time out" room. Being involved in this situation was surely eye opening. I still don't quite know what my feelings are of this situation. I am glad that I am there to be able to help assist in keeping my fellow coworkers and the student(s) safe. On the other hand I feel like this sort of behavior doesn't belong in our schools. It is so unsettling for our other students. But then the question arises as to where is the right place for these kids. Its not fair to them to be shipped off and stuck in a institution somewhere away from the real world. Just like the other students they have to learn how to survive in the real world and be around the general public. It is hard enough to find these kids the counseling and resources they need to learn how to lead a somewhat normal life. Our female student has already been turned away from one of the local counseling agencies in town because they deemed her too violent! Its all so sad. It also makes you think about why we have so many of these special needs students now days? Looking back I can't remember having anyone in my school with a mental or even physical need. It amazes me as to how many forms and levels of Autism there are. Each student is so unique in their disability. What is causing this influx of special needs students? I feel like there is still so much research and learning that needs to be discovered to be able to understand and help these kids better. I knew this job wasn't going to be easy and I will admit that in the first month I didn't think I was cut out for this. But, as the weeks have gone on I have grown to love it. Call me crazy! I never in a million years thought I would be in a teaching role with other peoples kids. However, these kids have crawled into a very special place in my heart. I feel proud that I am able to find the patience and understanding to give them the assistance they need to make their day just a little bit easier and help them to succeed. Even if it calls for a "therapeutic hug" to keep them safe and make it through the day.