I'm a high school special education teacher, and it's my first year teaching ever. I love my job, but sometimes I feel so discouraged. Most of my students have learning disorders, and I can't find one kid who can say that they even remotely enjoy school. Many have just given up, they have a bad attitude or they don't do anything in class. I'm trying to be someone positive for them so that they can enjoy at least something, but they continue to fight against anything that I do. Many of them have parents and other family members that did not finish high school. I ask my kids, "Don't you want to be the first? Imagine how proud your family would be! To say that you could do it!" Their response is typically "I don't really care," or "My family doesn't really think school's that important."

I just don't know what to do. I feel like a terrible teacher.