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Snow
Days Provide Glimpse of Special Program
Let
it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
by Mandy Locke (January, 1997)
As
adults throughout our community cringed at the thought of another winter
snowstorm, students in every grade sent prayers pleading for a special
order of the "white stuff".
This
miracle of nature meant shoveling driveways, traveling 20 miles per hour
under the speed limit, and putting on extra layers of clothes. But to
students of Bedford County, last week's winter snowstorm meant days of
freedom from homework, sleeping late, snow ball fights, and sledding.
Many
high schoolers reverted to their holiday sleeping patterns and television
addiction after having returned to school for only four days before
getting out again. The dedicated students have taken this extra time out
to begin studying for mid-terms, which will begin the day after our first
full day back in school.
Many
seniors have taken this opportunity to tackle their college and
scholarship applications, realizing that this is their last semester in
high school. Other students have helped out their employers by working
extra hours during this unexpected holiday. No doubt, many of these
teen-agers are spending time with friends, having sleep-overs and movie
marathons. Others could not resist becoming like children again when the
ground became covered with a blanket of white.
Personally,
this snow break provided me with enough time to enjoy all of these
activities. However, Tuesday I also had the rare opportunity to spend the
day with my sister, a special education teacher at Glencliff High School
in Nashville, TN.
My
sister's class is referred to as a Life Skills class, the main goal of
which is to teach these special students skills that they will need to
function in the real world. Her students' disabilities range from moderate
to severe. Some of these students will be able to function independently
after graduating from high school while others will live and work in group
homes or with their families.
I
was able to witness the students do everything from alphabetizing names to
practicing playing basketball for the Special Olympics. I was amazed by
their wonderful enthusiastic attitudes despite their daily challenges.
I
began to understand why these students are called "special". It
is not any disability that makes these students "special" but
rather their unique personalities warrant that title. They continue to try
when they feel defeated and encourage their peers to do the same.
These
students not only warm the hearts of their fellow classmates on a daily
basis, but they also impact the lives of every type of student at
Glencliff. Every student, from a cheerleader to an "English as a
second language" student, know the names of these challenged students
and never hesitate to speak to them in the halls and cafeteria.
This
school year, I have reported on the positive activities of teenagers right
here in Bedford County, but other schools have their share of outstanding
students and programs.
One
of the biggest factors in the great relations between these special
students and grade-level students is a program called
"Peer-Tutoring". Students in grade-level classes come to the
special education classes during a study hall or free period in order to
help these students and become friends with them.
Search for pro furnaces Buffalo for winter.
The
positive effect of this program is phenomenal. The self-confidence of the
challenged students improves by their knowing that someone other than
teachers and family care about them. This program has an equally
beneficial effect on the tutors themselves. For one hour out their school
day, they enter the world of these "special students", a world
where popularity and good grades don't matter and where courtesy and a
positive attitude are all the tools needed.
The
great activities of students can be found beyond the realms of Bedford
County. These students, a mixture of all ethnic backgrounds, tried a new
approach to getting along with others who are different from them. Their
dedication to understanding who these challenged students are, instead of
judging what they can do, makes everyone involved in this program
undoubtedly "special".
Mandy
Locke is a senior at Shelbyville Central High School. Her column
highlighting the positive activities of high school students appears each
week in the Times-Gazette.
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