Is Your Passion Convenient or Committed?

A teacher's silhouette staring into a mirror. The reflection are faces of children.
I once heard about a teacher who proudly called herself a “passionate special educator.” But when she encountered children with severe needs — like a child with cerebral palsy who drooled — she kept her distance.


What struck me even more was this: she advised her friend to keep her own baby away from children with special needs, fearing the baby could somehow “contract” their condition. That single comment spoke volumes.


This is where words and actions begin to part ways. Passion, when it’s only convenient, can actually harm the very children we claim to support.



Convenient passion is surface-level. It shows up when it’s easy, when it earns praise, or when it looks admirable. It hides when things get messy, uncomfortable, or when stigma creeps in.

Convenient passion says: “I love helping children with special needs… but not when it makes me uncomfortable.”



What Research Reminds Us

Studies show that teacher attitudes deeply shape the success of inclusion. 

A 2020 review in the International Journal of Inclusive Education highlighted that positive teacher beliefs and reduced stigma directly improve not only student outcomes but also the overall classroom climate. In contrast, when bias or fear lingers, it creates barriers to belonging and learning.

In other words: how a teacher thinks about children is just as important as what they teach them.



Committed passion leans in. It accepts that supporting children with special needs isn’t always “neat.” It embraces the drool, the meltdowns, the unexpected turns.

Committed passion doesn’t compare one child’s growth to another. It celebrates uniqueness, understanding that progress looks different for each learner.

Committed passion is about children — not about image.



☘️

For educators, the real work begins with asking ourselves tough but necessary questions:


🔶 What fears do I bring into my classroom, and how might they affect my students?


🔶 Do I truly see every child as worthy of belonging, or do I unconsciously draw lines?


🔶 Am I in this because it’s convenient — or because I’m committed?



The truth is, passion isn’t proven by words. It’s revealed in the small, daily choices to show up — fully, consistently, and without prejudice.


Because children with special needs deserve more than convenient passion. They deserve committed hearts.




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Comments

  1. Cynthia OghenegarenAugust 29, 2025 at 2:41 PM

    Committed passion is about children not about image. This is word on the marble. Thank you for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  2. Julia AluAugust 29, 2025 at 8:10 PM

    Thank you for this. I've encountered similar uncomfortable situations a lot of times. Reading this journal and reflecting on those moments, I must say that I'm not so proud of the way I handled such situations. Now I know better.
    Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Empowering Educators with VickySeptember 1, 2025 at 2:05 PM

      Failure is also feedback - I'm glad to know that you picked your lessons from those uncomfortable situations - now you know better. And will definitely do better.
      Congratulations 🎉

      Delete

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