Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Spread the Word


So today's the day. The day to take the pledge to stop using the R-word. I try not to act like I know how msk feels if he doesn't tell me (verbally or non-verbally) how he feels. Because of that I'm not going to tell you he feels belittled or demeaned when a classmate refers to him as a "retard" or the special ed class as the "retard class". I can tell you that this happens too often and it makes me question the success of inclusion.

Then I remember the way kids in msk's class last year stood up for him when other kids were picking on him. I remember how deeply they came to know him and respect him. It may be hard, but minds and hearts are being changed and the r-word turns to respect... little by little.


I took the pledge. I hope you will too.

9 comments:

  1. Thank you for speaking out for children like yours and mine.

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  3. I like it. It's a word I don't tolerate in the classroom.

    Can you offer suggestions?

    There's a character in a book we're reading right now who almost drowned, apparently suffered brain damage, and now has the mind of a 3-year old. What's appropriate term? Or for a character like Lennie from Of Mice and Men?

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  4. For specific and real people I'd go with as much specifics as you can. For example, I'll say about my son - "a kid with autism, who doesn't talk much, but reads and understands more than you would guess." Also I always try for person first language; a kid with autism or a teacher with MS as oppsed to a Downs syndrome child.

    For a literary character you might not have the backstory but I'd still go specific brain damaged, intellectually disabled. For Lenny I'd guess developmentally disabled, doesn't understand the social complexities of our world.

    In real life you want to emphasize individuality and reality, nort give a label that limits, less so about a character, but in as much as it ties to reality I think sensitivity is always good.

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  7. I am writing on your latest post for the first time. I have a SK. What could you possibly have had to delete? I am afraid to ask.

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  8. Comments are great. I love comments. Spam and/or ads are not great. Comments that seem to have no connection to the post, but provide commercial links will be deleted. Sorry if this offends, but I get to make the rules on my blog.

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  9. Ads? I get it! I was afraid there had been negative comments about the kids or the topic. Thanks. Of course it is your blog. Was just hoping you had not received some hate mail or such.

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I love comments. Ads, on the other hand, will be deleted.