Comments on: My Two New Heroes http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/my-two-new-heroes/ A view of autism from along the spectrum Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:33:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Amanda http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/my-two-new-heroes/#comment-7253 Amanda Wed, 11 Jun 2008 03:32:08 +0000 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/my-two-new-heroes/#comment-7253 This is one of my favorite quotes. Ms. Portillo could learn something from both Haim Ginott and the two young heroes. "I've come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. My personal approach creates a climate. My daily mood makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be the tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor. Hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or de-humanized." - Haim Ginott, clinical psychologist, child therapist, educator, and author This is one of my favorite quotes. Ms. Portillo could learn something from both Haim Ginott and the two young heroes.
“I’ve come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. My personal approach creates a climate. My daily mood makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be the tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor. Hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or de-humanized.” - Haim Ginott, clinical psychologist, child therapist, educator, and author

]]> By: Mary Kyser http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/my-two-new-heroes/#comment-7252 Mary Kyser Fri, 06 Jun 2008 23:48:43 +0000 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/my-two-new-heroes/#comment-7252 How terrible for one so young to go through. Here in my littel town in WI our schools take the opportunity to teach the entire school about disabilities.. to the point of bringing in a horse to show how it benefits some kids. Just this week my daughter learned about autism because one of her fellow 5th graders has been diagnosed with it. The school took the approach of teaching the kids what is it about, how to look for signs of distress in the child and established some ground rules for special treatment they could all follow in the school to benefit this child. I guess our little community is pretty good after all! Perhaps the teacher needs to take some classes to bring herself up to speed on compassion for others. Shame on her. How terrible for one so young to go through. Here in my littel town in WI our schools take the opportunity to teach the entire school about disabilities.. to the point of bringing in a horse to show how it benefits some kids. Just this week my daughter learned about autism because one of her fellow 5th graders has been diagnosed with it. The school took the approach of teaching the kids what is it about, how to look for signs of distress in the child and established some ground rules for special treatment they could all follow in the school to benefit this child. I guess our little community is pretty good after all! Perhaps the teacher needs to take some classes to bring herself up to speed on compassion for others. Shame on her.

]]> By: Moggy http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/my-two-new-heroes/#comment-7246 Moggy Thu, 29 May 2008 10:46:27 +0000 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/my-two-new-heroes/#comment-7246 I thought the same about the two five-year-olds... As an autistic child, I had the amazing luck to be in a school full of their type, led by two of the many teachers I had as a little kid that taught that everybody is worthy of love & acceptance. I never understood how lucky I was to grow up in that atmosphere -- along with other kids I now realize were on the spectrum and equally loved -- until I found the autistic community online and realized how other people like us are treated. I think it's also important to note that little Alex didn't have "behavioral" problems until he was in that woman's class. He was OK in pre-school, then suddenly was being sent to the principal all the time in kindergarten, though I never saw an explanation as for why. I personally think that the teacher was punishing him for showing signs of being autistic, and that as he got more upset at the mistreatment, she punished him more & turned his classmates against him more. To "Aspie": ALL little kids can be a huge pain in the butt, especially if they are in physical/emotional pain (or under huge stress) from the people/environment around them. Often autistic spectrum kids are misjudged as poorly-behaved either because of that, or because the adult doesn't like harmless differences they can't understand, like answering rhetorical questions. Little kids also pick up on the values adults around them demonstrate, and fairness is one that they seem really drawn towards; strong-willed kids even that age will stand up for what they believe in. Ironically, being rude towards somebody on their blog is far more a sign of a "lack of thinking skills" because people are far easier to teach or convince when treated with respect! (Sorry for the word-scrambling, it's really late and I'm kind of rushing so I can get to bed!) I thought the same about the two five-year-olds… As an autistic child, I had the amazing luck to be in a school full of their type, led by two of the many teachers I had as a little kid that taught that everybody is worthy of love & acceptance. I never understood how lucky I was to grow up in that atmosphere — along with other kids I now realize were on the spectrum and equally loved — until I found the autistic community online and realized how other people like us are treated.

I think it’s also important to note that little Alex didn’t have “behavioral” problems until he was in that woman’s class. He was OK in pre-school, then suddenly was being sent to the principal all the time in kindergarten, though I never saw an explanation as for why. I personally think that the teacher was punishing him for showing signs of being autistic, and that as he got more upset at the mistreatment, she punished him more & turned his classmates against him more.

To “Aspie”: ALL little kids can be a huge pain in the butt, especially if they are in physical/emotional pain (or under huge stress) from the people/environment around them. Often autistic spectrum kids are misjudged as poorly-behaved either because of that, or because the adult doesn’t like harmless differences they can’t understand, like answering rhetorical questions. Little kids also pick up on the values adults around them demonstrate, and fairness is one that they seem really drawn towards; strong-willed kids even that age will stand up for what they believe in. Ironically, being rude towards somebody on their blog is far more a sign of a “lack of thinking skills” because people are far easier to teach or convince when treated with respect!

(Sorry for the word-scrambling, it’s really late and I’m kind of rushing so I can get to bed!)

]]> By: spike of sapphoq.com http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/my-two-new-heroes/#comment-7242 spike of sapphoq.com Wed, 28 May 2008 05:21:43 +0000 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/my-two-new-heroes/#comment-7242 I am outraged that this happened. The teacher surely had other options at her disposal for dealing with a five year old. My heart goes out to Alex. spike I am outraged that this happened.
The teacher surely had other options at her disposal for dealing with a five year old.

My heart goes out to Alex.

spike

]]> By: Aspie http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/my-two-new-heroes/#comment-7239 Aspie Mon, 26 May 2008 14:31:38 +0000 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/my-two-new-heroes/#comment-7239 "They recognized the difference between right and wrong and voted for what was right by choosing acceptance and understanding." God. What a joke. I am Asperger's. I was a bloody pain at school. Still, I had some friends...Those 2 voted for his friend to stay, or because it didn't bother them. You are attributing high moral values to 5 year olds. Right. Ok, sorry to bother, just carry on with your usual lack of the thinking skills necessary to form an opinion. At least a worthy to being listened one. Enjoy your blog. “They recognized the difference between right and wrong and voted for what was right by choosing acceptance and understanding.”
God.
What a joke.
I am Asperger’s. I was a bloody pain at school. Still, I had some friends…Those 2 voted for his friend to stay, or because it didn’t bother them.
You are attributing high moral values to 5 year olds. Right.
Ok, sorry to bother, just carry on with your usual lack of the thinking skills necessary to form an opinion. At least a worthy to being listened one.
Enjoy your blog.

]]> By: Andrea Shettle, MSW http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/my-two-new-heroes/#comment-7238 Andrea Shettle, MSW Mon, 26 May 2008 13:39:41 +0000 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/my-two-new-heroes/#comment-7238 THANK YOU for writing a blog post about the two kids (whoever they are) who went against the majority. They're my heros too. In reading blog posts around the web about the situation (starting with Amanda's post), I was starting to think, "Those two children really deserve kudos, and a blog post all to themselves," so I'm glad you did that. THANK YOU for writing a blog post about the two kids (whoever they are) who went against the majority. They’re my heros too. In reading blog posts around the web about the situation (starting with Amanda’s post), I was starting to think, “Those two children really deserve kudos, and a blog post all to themselves,” so I’m glad you did that.

]]> By: Along the Spectrum » And a New Goat http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/my-two-new-heroes/#comment-7235 Along the Spectrum » And a New Goat Sun, 25 May 2008 14:43:48 +0000 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/my-two-new-heroes/#comment-7235 [...] My Two New Heroes | Home [...] […] My Two New Heroes | Home […]

]]> By: Kassiane http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/my-two-new-heroes/#comment-7234 Kassiane Sun, 25 May 2008 04:37:07 +0000 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/my-two-new-heroes/#comment-7234 I think theyre my 2 new heroes too. It's hard for a kid to go against everyone AND the authority figure. I hope their parents are proud of them. I think theyre my 2 new heroes too. It’s hard for a kid to go against everyone AND the authority figure. I hope their parents are proud of them.

]]> By: kristina http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/my-two-new-heroes/#comment-7233 kristina Sun, 25 May 2008 01:50:34 +0000 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/my-two-new-heroes/#comment-7233 Last paragraph is what it's all about-----many of Charlie's teachers and therapists have told me, it's kids like Charlie and your 2 guys who meant the most to them, and have been their best students. Last paragraph is what it’s all about—–many of Charlie’s teachers and therapists have told me, it’s kids like Charlie and your 2 guys who meant the most to them, and have been their best students.

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