Journal #3

          This week has been an amazing learning experience. From all the readings that I had to do, I really feel bad for so many children who are going through struggles with their families to try and get a good educational. I never realized that there are steps that need to be taken in order for a child with disabilities to come to school. I was able to teach a girl last semester who was hearing impaired. I never knew that the school had to go through steps to make sure she had an aid with her at all times to sign to her and let her know what others were saying. I bonded with this girl and miss her. She was so willing to play with the other children. the other children also adored her and were willing to learn sign language just to talk with her. At times I would sit down with her and have her teach me how to sign through a book. I was able to sit down with her aid and talk to her about the situation she was in and how she was able to come to school.
           I was amazed to find out that the parents did not ant to be the cornerstone of their child. They did not like signing with her or wanting her to sign at home. They wants her to grow up. This upset me because she was a 3rd grader and was allowed to be a child and make mistakes. The school wanted this girl to gain an education so they took the steps to make sure she had an aid and the right supplies to help her through the school year. The readings and the Cedar case made me think of her. The Cedar Rapids case was an eye opener for me to see how parents and schools want to do what is best for the child, but have to go through different ideas and meetings to see just what is allowed and not allowed. It was hard to see a boy who needed someone just like this little girl I knew 24/7. He wanted to learn and grow but need someone there to help him. The parents wanted him to have this education, but the district didn't want to pay for everything.
            Like I said before this was such an eye opener for me to see how there are so many situations in this world where a child wants to gain an education but has disabilities that slow them down. Just like last week, these children are sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father and deserve respect and attention that will push them forward. I was grateful to see an example of this in the school I taught at and so happy to know that this little girl pushed forward and is so happy to learn with the other students in the class than be at home and not progressing.