This is why inclusion classrooms are so important

I'm bumping for an update. Becky and her boyfriend are still going strong. Today was Becky's kindegarten registration. When we walked in to register, she asked, "Where's xxx?" I replied, "He is going to a different school." She burst into tears, and wailed, "How are we supposed to get MARRIED if we can't even go to the same KINDEGARTEN?!?!" I told her that if it was meant to be, it would be, and that they would see each other in middle school.
On a high note, her teacher told me that little xxx has made HUGE progress in his speech due to Becky chattering in his ear all day, LOL.

ORIGINAL POST:
My DD, Becky, is a diva. The kid is gorgeous... long curly blonde hair, big blue eyes, the prettiest face you ever saw... she looks like a porcelain doll. She is in an inclusion preschool... each classroom is half general-ed kids and half special-ed. There is a little boy in her room who has pretty severe physical disabilities that affect his mobility, eyesight, and occupational abilities (I don't know if that's the right word. There is something wrong with his hands and he has difficulty using them). Becky said from the beginning of the year, "I don't like him. He's weird. I don't like his face," etc. Really mean things. We tried so hard to explain to her that everyone is different, God made everyone special, etc. She wasn't having it. In her mind, she was pretty, he was not, end of story. DH and I were upset... this goes against everything we are about. How could she be like this? The teachers told us to continue what we were doing at home, and they would do what they could at school.

Fast forward to this past wekend, when Becky tells us she's been talking to this boy and he's really nice. Great! we say! And then today.....

I picked her up from preK and am told by the teacher that Becky and this young man had to be seperated today. "Oh no," I say. "Did she hit him or something?" The teacher says no, they were KISSING.

OMG.

As I walked out of the building with Becky, she was skipping. "I was kissing with xxx today Mommy! I love him so much! We're going to get married! We are going to have a baby and he's going to be the dad! We're going to name our baby Alana! I'm going to lay on my bed and think about him all day!" (All actual stuff she said, btw). I try to play it cool. I say, "Did anything ELSE
happen at school today?" She says, "Mom!!! I can't think about NOTHIN' else! I am in TRUE LOVE right now!!!" Direct quote.

I guess in theory, this is the way inclusion education is supposed to work... So -called regular kids are hesitant (putting it politely in our case) about being around kids who are "different," but in the end they all learn from each other and come to understand each other (also putting it politely in our case).

In any case, a summer 2030 wedding is planned, and the bride will be wearing her Barbie bride dress.

Message edited 2/8/2011 3:13:15 PM.

Re: This is why inclusion classrooms are so important

and

Re: This is why inclusion classrooms are so important

how cute!

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That is an incredible story which honestly brought a tear to my eye. I love stories like that. That is how inclusion should be.

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That is the sweetest story. I know my principal (I teach obviously) would flip over it. She was just saying in a meeting today that she wants an inclusion class on every grade (right now we only have a couple). Your DD learned such a big lesson and found true love in the process!!!!!!! Adorable.

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Re: This is why inclusion classrooms are so important

That is so adorable! I love how they even came up with a name for the baby.

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LOVE this story!!

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Re: This is why inclusion classrooms are so important

OMG that is the cutest story I ever heard! Your daughter is a total riot!!

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OMG soooooooooooo cute!!!

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So cute! Love that she got it all planned out already. No wonder we make weddings big deals. We think about it at such a young age.

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great story

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That is one of the sweetest stories ever!!! I love it!!!

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thats pretty funny..

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That is so sweet! I've worked with children with special needs in typical preschools and it really benefits all of the children.

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Re: This is why inclusion classrooms are so important

That is adorable.

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Re: This is why inclusion classrooms are so important

So cute!

My DD is in an inclusive program at preschool too, and she comes home a few days a week and updates me on some of the special-needs kids' progress..."X started learning more words today mommy" and she's so proud/excited for him. So cute!

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Bump because it's cute

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What a great story!!!

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I missed this the first time but, it's so adorable!

I'm sorry her dreams of marriage to this boy were squashed by separate kindergartens.

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OMG.... poor sweetie! But To be printed for later use!

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Too adorable