After my troubles with school were fully realized, my
parents got me a tutor to help me with my school work and to practice
reading. It took some work, but
eventually I got up to speed with, what felt like, the rest of the world. I give no second thought to reading now,
however at times I still confuse a few things, but all and all no complaints.
My parents were a pivotal part of getting me the help I
needed to overcome the difficulties in school. My mother helped me every day after school
with my home work and on countless occasions read my reading assignments to me
knowing it would take me three times as long to do it myself. They were patient
with me when I was not patient with myself and I could not have gotten where I am
today without them, so thanks again Betsy and Brian (Mom and Dad, I don’t usually
call them by their first names, but I thought It was appropriate for
recognition purposes).
I was lucky, throughout my schooling I saw other students
having the same kind of difficulties as me, but not getting near the same
attention I did. It is up to parents to make sure their children aren’t falling
through the cracks and to get them the help they need when needed. I saw
parents flat out ignore their children struggling in school, these kids I went
to class with publicly proclaimed they were dumb, implying that there was nothing anyone could
do about it and that was just the way things were. Parents who stand by and do
nothing as their children struggle through this broken American school system
should be held accountable for child abuse. If you want to have kids fine, but
once you do you are responsible for their development and growth in society. It
is ridiculous to have to even state this outright, to an intelligent person this
is pure logic, but you don’t need a license to have children (topic for a
future post).
I would like to take a quick digression to say: all standardized tests issued by the state or US Government are
greatly prejudiced against people with dyslexia and other learning differences.
To assume that one test issued by the state can accurately measure the
intelligence of students in beyond ignorant. These exams literally hurt
my brain and I think I might be able to claim PTSD for all I had to endure. I failed
the high school exit exam three times, the second time I was able to pass the
math portion, but the reading portion really eluded me. The last time I took the test the proctor of
the exam said “since this is the third time you are taking this exam you are
really going to want to pass this time” or something to that effect. I remember
thinking “what a bitch” because, yah umm, I really wasn’t trying the first two
times and I really enjoy beating my head against this table every time I take
it.
Anyway where
was I, oh right what I am trying to get to is there is no such thing as
learning “disabilities”. You may have noticed I always put the term disabilities
in quotes when referring to learning “disabilities”. This is because I believe
this is the wrong term to describe people that don’t do well in school. The proper
expression is learning differences, indicating that everyone learns in diverse
ways and to assume there is only one linear way to impart information to
someone is preposterous. A quick search on Google defines a disability as:
- A physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities.
- A disadvantage or handicap, esp. one imposed or recognized by the law.
Further if you image search the word disability this picture
shows up the majority of the time:
If I am in fact
classified as a “disabled” person because I see the world and absorb
information differently than other people, I want a handicap placard on my license
plate that allows me to park anywhere I want. Don’t get me wrong I am not
trying to de-legitimize people who have actual disabilities, I’m merely making
the comparison that if I am to be grouped in with the guy who falls off a
ladder at work, breaks his leg and now has limited mobility, I want the same
perks.
The funny thing is I don’t and never have felt disabled,
sure struggling through school really pissed me off a good portion of the time,
but I never felt that there was something inherently wrong with me. I consider
myself fortunate that I had a great support system and eventually discovered
something I like to do, i.e. Biology.
For those who have no support system being labeled disabled
can be discouraging and make people think there is something seriously wrong
with them. The bottom line is everyone is different both physically and
mentally; the notion that the American schooling is fine (it clearly is not)
and that anyone who falls behind the curve is disabled is ludicrous to say the
least. If I was truly disabled I would not be where I am today.
This post is dedicated to my parents, with special recognition
to my tutor Marcia.
Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind
don't matter and those who matter don't mind.
- Dr. Seuss
