Carter Worries So Much

Carter is another Aspie boy that I have the pleasure of working with. He is Asian and his parents' culture expects that Carter will get perfect grades. Carter is extremely gifted in math and science. But, ohhhh, how he worries about it. He reminds me of Eeyore from the Winnie the Pooh stories.

"Ooooooo no, today is going to be bad.....I have a math test and I'm going to do bad....ooooooh no....my parents will be ashamed of me.....my grandparents will be ashamed of me.....they will throw me out on the street and ooooohhhhh noooooo, that's where I will die.....all alone......

"Carter", I ask, "how'd you do on the test?"

"I got an A but on the next one I'm sure I will fail, ohhhhhhh no....."

Carter has my heart, most definitely.

He Has a Good Vocabulary

James speaks like he is a native Brit. When he says : "I can't do it", it is with a British "can't". He speaks proper English, as well. " I must beckon the teacher for assistance". One day I asked him if he had everything, (back pack, lunch bag, trumpet, jacket) ready to hurry out to the bus. I need to see him to the bus and if I time it just right, I can get out to my car and leave the campus moments before the bell rings and miss the mad student exodus. He answered " I have, (British Accent), but I must go numeral 2". Even "having to go #2" is said in a fancy way.

He Loves To Spin

James, my Aspie student, does really well when the schedule works like usual and the lessons keep moving. When he is fully engaged in a project he does just fine. When there is a lull in the action James copes by spinning. He will stand up and spin around and around in one place until his attention is needed for another task. He knows that the English teacher has a tall spinning bar stool in her class and that he will get in trouble when she comes in and catches him because it drives her nuts. She doesn't like anyone touching her stuff. I know he needs to spin as it seems to calm him down so I try to time it just right to warn him to take his seat before she walks in to start class. It is unlikely that he will hurt the spinning bar stool and he needs to spin, it helps him settle before class begins. That can only help, right? There are several spinning chairs in my office. They also have rollers on them so we asked the building engineer to come down and remove the rollers because James gets going so fast he spins out of control. It doesn't bother him but it does bother some of the other students who claim they get dizzy when he spins next to them. Also, since James is 6'5" his legs invariably crash and make a loud "knocking"noise, slowing him down for a very brief pause, into the other furniture while he goes round and round. Now that the rollers are off of James' spinning chair, it is nearly impossible to lift the heavy chair to another area, away from the dizzy students.

Routines and Honesty

One thing I gathered in a hurry at my job working with James, the boy with Asperger's, is the importance of routines. "What did you have for lunch today, James?", asks Luis. "Did you have pizza or a hamburger?".

James: "I had the same thing I had yesterday and the day before yesterday, and last week and last month and last year..."

In Math class, a paper airplane sailed over to James' desk. He raises his hand at the same time he unwraps and reads the message.

"Mr. Reid", pointing over to the tables pushed together of 4 boys, "they threw this at me and it says; 'vagina'. "

The entire class freezes including myself. I have learned that James can understand the rule that you shouldn't throw things at classmates. But he doesn't think further about how it will turn out if he pronounces certain words out loud.

Students have learned they can BAIT James into doing things they can laugh at. James can not STAND farting noises. He goes into a complete rage and classmates know it. For a good 2 month period this was really a problem and I had to watch out for it. James is a 6'5" big kid and he will fly at anyone who does this. He gives the appearance of a threat when he is mad, basically because he is so big and loud. I have seen school security called after James has been provoked by a series of fart noises. To me this is bullying. My concern is how will James handle irritations outside of a school setting? Can he learn to ignore these triggers?

She Won't be Forced.

Announcements are offered over the PA system at the highschool after the Pledge of Allegience, every day. I immediately jumped to my feet and put my hand over my heart. As did Jon. As did Danny. As did James, the student that has Asperger's. Not one other student out of the 30+ classmates. Not the teacher, either. James know the routine. "Why don't you stand for the Pledge of Allegiance?", James asks Ashley.

"Why? Because I've been forced to my entire life and I won't be forced to ever again."

The Pledge of Allegiance
I Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands,one Nation under God,indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

I am the Flag
by Ruth Apperson Rous
I am the flag of the United States of America.
I was born on June 14, 1777, in Philadelphia.
There the Continental Congress adopted my stars and stripes as the national flag.
My thirteen stripes alternating red and white, with a union of thirteen white stars in a field of blue, represented a new constellation, a new nation dedicated to the personal and religious liberty of mankind.
Today fifty stars signal from my union, one for each of the fifty sovereign states in the greatest constitutional republic the world has ever known.
My colors symbolize the patriotic ideals and spiritual qualities of the citizens of my country.
My red stripes proclaim the fearless courage and integrity of American men and boys and the self-sacrifice and devotion of American mothers and daughters.
My white stripes stand for liberty and equality for all.
My blue is the blue of heaven, loyalty, and faith.
I represent these eternal principles: liberty, justice, and humanity.
I embody American freedom: freedom of speech, religion, assembly, the press, and the sanctity of the home.
I typify that indomitable spirit of determination brought to my land by Christopher Columbus and by all my forefathers - the Pilgrims, Puritans, settlers at James town and Plymouth.
I am as old as my nation.
I am a living symbol of my nation's law: the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.
I voice Abraham Lincoln's philosophy: "A government of the people, by the people,for the people."
I stand guard over my nation's schools, the seedbed of good citizenship and true patriotism.
I am displayed in every schoolroom throughout my nation; every schoolyard has a flag pole for my display.
Daily thousands upon thousands of boys and girls pledge their allegiance to me and my country.
I have my own law—Public Law 829, "The Flag Code" - which definitely states my correct use and display for all occasions and situations.
I have my special day, Flag Day. June 14 is set aside to honor my birth.
Americans, I am the sacred emblem of your country. I symbolize your birthright, your heritage of liberty purchased with blood and sorrow.
I am your title deed of freedom, which is yours to enjoy and hold in trust for posterity.
If you fail to keep this sacred trust inviolate, if I am nullified and destroyed, you and your children will become slaves to dictators and despots.
Eternal vigilance is your price of freedom.
As you see me silhouetted against the peaceful skies of my country, remind yourself that I am the flag of your country, that I stand for what you are - no more, no less.
Guard me well, lest your freedom perish from the earth.
Dedicate your lives to those principles for which I stand: "One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
I was created in freedom. I made my first appearance in a battle for human liberty.
God grant that I may spend eternity in my "land of the free and the home of the brave" and that I shall ever be known as "Old Glory," the flag of the United States of America.

State of Education Part 3

"The widely accepted theory on how the world evolved is based on the Big Bang model, the universe expanded from an extremely dense and hot state and continues to expand today. A common analogy explains that space itself is expanding, carrying galaxies with it.... Jenna raises her hand, "What if you believe in Creationism rather than evolution?", she asks.
"What about Jesus?", calls out Jose.
"This is NOT a religion class, it is a Science class", says the teacher. "I will NOT answer any questions unless they are about Science." "....the expansion of the universe appears to be accelerating...."
Oh ,how I wanted to raise my hand and ask for an only FAIR discussion which would include both sides. Only 1 side is allowed and it is "the most widely accepted theory...".
But I am not a student and I may not particpate in this lesson. I work with my student, James, who has Asperger's and make sure he takes good notes on the Science lesson.

My Kid with Aspergers Loves Routine

The student that I work with is a pretty cool kid. I have enjoyed being with him and figuring him out. James(name changed to honor privacy) has Aspergers and one of his characteristics is his desire for routine. James packs his own lunch every single day. He has 1- PBJ sandwich, 1 granola bar, 1 apple and 1 Capri Sun. It has not been anything but those items for the 5 months I have been working with him. James is a big kid and could easily put away double what he brings but he never brings more. I bring extra chips, mandarin oranges, yogurt, Hot Pockets or whatever I have, which he always accepts and eats. But, he never packs anything different or extra in his lunch box. I think changing anything about his lunch would really throw him off balance. We often get out of the class before lunch a few minutes early. James does not take one bite until the the bell rings. That is just the way he does things.

State of Education

Being home; caring for and nurturing my family is my bliss.

In January, it was beyond a matter of choice that I needed to supplement our family's income. I managed to be hired as a one-on-one with a boy that has Aspergers Syndrome at the high school. Aspergers is a high functioning form of autism. My main task is making sure he doesn't stare at or touch girls. He is right on target hormonally for a high school boy. Since I go class to class with him, I get a good education on the state of education in a public high school. Since it is the end of the year, it is as if the teachers have cabin fever as bad as the students. The first three periods, there was absolutely nothing planned. The students just killed time in class until the bell rang. Three solid hours of NOTHING. Not a good plan for any student but especially my student who needs to be engaged in a lesson or things can go poorly as fast as a college age snowboarder at Keystone. Oh, these kids. Do their parents know how their time is spent? Maybe. Do they care? Hopefully. Time flies by so quickly. Time is so short with our children and high schoolers are finishing up their childhood getting their minds filled up with all kinds of teacher/administrator/peer /worldly ideas and views.

Since when is funny for the math teacher to point out a cute girl's Abercrombie & Fitch shirt by calling it Abercrombie & Bitch? Since when is it ok for a teacher to tell a boy the just vocalized the "F" word to "shut the hell up; you can't say the "F" word in the classroom?" Could the teachers in my department see in my face how horrified I was to hear them tell the newly sexually active girl that she doesn't have to tell her mother; just take the bus south to the Target store and Planned Parenthood is right there. "You need to be responsible".

I had not been in public schools in many years.

Our hearts hurt when our children do something to disappoint us. We can remind them the we love them and God has a plan for their lives . We can share the Biblical truth and our faith bears witness. Home schoolers be encouraged that you are giving your children the best possible education and values in your Christ and love-filled home.