The puppet of Eminem--he's funny, but he is sure working my nerves!

I noticed something on t.v. the other day that I caught myself laughing at. Everyone likes Eminem, the rapper, right? Well he has a puppet that he puts in some of his videos and "promotional materials," named "Special ed". He is supposed to be funny because he is constantly gleeful when something "funny" happens.

But I no longer find Eminem funny. As a matter of fact, this damn puppet is damn right offensive. As a former special educator, it was my job to be "positive" constantly. Believe me, having to treat 4th graders like they were in preschool, constantly having to stretch a smile across my face killed me. "Research based best practices" according to my mentor, Mrs. Marth Vincent at the Regiion VIII Education Service Center.

Yet, sometimes, I wanted to hang my head and cry. My first year was so damn difficult, made more difficult by veteran teachers because of literal professional jealousy. No, I wasn't educated to become a special educator--but then again, it wasn't much of a stretch.

I believe that much this sickening positivity is only being practiced in Northeast Texas. I read constantly another blog that makes me a little jaded, even though my friend Janet Morrison, who subsequently writes one of my favorite blogs, http://www.janetmorrison.blogspot.com, doesn't mean to make me cynical.

So yeah, Special Ed, kind of works my nerves, in the way that white folks in black face might offend Al Sharpton. But then again, I'm just a sourpuss.....

After another long bout of silence

Well, folks, I am here again after another long bout of silence. I now have three kids--including my daughter's biological mother. She wanted to stay connected to her baby, and she has never known the woman that was her mother.

I have long since stepped up to the plate of being a mother. I enjoy my children's play and their lives.

Yet, I wonder what has happened to play in real life. We as adults have forgotten about play. I am wondering why there is such an emphasis placed on academics that places all children, including college aged children, in chairs. I like to have a classroom where the students get up and move.

And people wonder why the world looks at our incidence of obesity. We are one of the few countries in the world where the citizenry is literally dying of gluttony. The only other incidence I know is in Leviticus in the Bible, where the Isrealites, after being released from bondage in Egypt, were whining about the dull, "boring" manna and longed for the days where they had onions, pickles, and meat. As if the bread that the manna literally was wasn't enough.

Yet, the Israelites were on the move, every day. And on one day of the week, they rested. And they played. This is a sabbath for them. We need to give our own children a sabbatical from TAKS.

Until next time, America.

In memory of...

I decided to write a blog in memory of one of my students who died about two weeks ago. It was a heart-wrenching experience and I feel like a part of me is gone.

I didn't get to attend the funeral. I hadn't read the Mt. Pleasant newspaper in months, so I never heard about his passing.

I remember this student well. He was always laughing and full of joy. He giggled and would always make you smile, no matter what the situation.

I tried really hard to get this particular student to be more fully included in classes with his non-disabled peers. Many times people focused on what this sweet child couldn't do. I wanted to focus on what he could do.

I came from an aspect that tried to get those kids moved more into the mainstream. Mt. Pleasant I. S. D. is moving back into the stoneage, where students with special needs are seen and not heard.

There are two events that will be of interest to me in the coming months: One of them is Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October and the other is Autism Awareness Month in January. Consult any of your search engines or contact the ARC of the greater Northeast Texas area for more information.