Leaf Dishes.
Today we went to Redlands High to do and art project with the mentally disabled kids there. I didn't get what Gary was alluding to, apparently, because I had no clue what we were going to be doing until right before we left. I was a little apprehensive at first, as I'm sure all the other girls were too, but we had fun. I helped a girl named Casey, who was 15. We made leaf-print candy dish style things with clay. Fun, and they turned out pretty cool! The girl I was helping was so funny, she kept talking about boys, and she didn't want to get her hands dirty.
I noticed the rest of the school walking past the place we were working, and realized that that's where I would be if I were still in high school, with the rest of the "normal" kids- who just glance over, and glance away.
The character that teaching special education requires is so admirable. All the teachers were very upbeat and talkative, probably realizing that we were a little unsure about what was required of us, and how much guidance vs. help we were supposed to be giving... But we all took it on with a good amount of enthusiasm, which I was happy to see.
Many of us got hugs as we were leaving.
The program there is widely recognized, Gary told us, and they have a beautiful garden that the kids work on. How cool. We'll be going back next week to glaze the leaves we made today.
I noticed the rest of the school walking past the place we were working, and realized that that's where I would be if I were still in high school, with the rest of the "normal" kids- who just glance over, and glance away.
The character that teaching special education requires is so admirable. All the teachers were very upbeat and talkative, probably realizing that we were a little unsure about what was required of us, and how much guidance vs. help we were supposed to be giving... But we all took it on with a good amount of enthusiasm, which I was happy to see.
Many of us got hugs as we were leaving.
The program there is widely recognized, Gary told us, and they have a beautiful garden that the kids work on. How cool. We'll be going back next week to glaze the leaves we made today.
posted by Carey at 3:12 PM
2 Comments:
Yeah Carey, you really got into this one.I recall walking by and seeing a level of intensity in your effort that matched that of you partner. You seemed to be very comfortable with the task, and just as comfortable working with this person whom you had never met before. Keep at it, there's something special going on here...
Did this encounter move beyond who you were, towards someone you never were before? Was this a transcendental experience?
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