thoughts on the news of the day: prom

hmmm…..

            A young lady named Toni Alten-Crowe was crowned prom queen at her school in Loveland, Ohio.  And what is so unusual about this event other than the fact that Toni is 20 years old?  Toni has Down Syndrome, which explains the age factor and makes winning the high school popularity contest rare.  Toni and her friend Drew Anderson, who was crowned prom king and is also a special needs kid have been main streamed their whole high school career.

            Acceptance of special needs kids has become common in most high schools because they are now part of the regular classroom population and also, in part, because of the popularity of the television show “Glee” which showcases high school kids with disabilities.

            I remember my elementary and  junior high days in a tiny parochial school and a kid in a wheelchair named Teresa.  We didn’t think much about the fact that she was unusual in her needs.  We all felt awkward and needy at that age anyway.  She did just about everything we did except P.E. and we were jealous that she didn’t have to go get sweaty and hot on the school yard. 

            Kids can be compassionate or they can be bullies.  Our example can determine which action they choose.  Some teachers resent having special needs kids in their classroom.  They can be disruptive and time consuming.  But to see the smile on Toni and Drew’s faces as they were crowned must have been worth all the bother to everyone who witnessed the event.  Way to go, Toni and Drew!

            hmmm…..