I am a teacher. I haven't always wanted to be a teacher. It just happened. It has JUST HAPPENED for over 22 years now. As I was thinking about this, my mind traveled over the hills of many stories about these important people in my life...my students. Story after story came to mind. Funny ones, sad ones, and even some scary ones. So, maybe it is a midlife move or something, but I don't want to forget them and so I decided I would start writing down as many of them as I can remember. Some days I can't remember why I have a string tied around my finger, but I do remember that day in 1983 when I was teaching about six 5th graders...the day it all started...
We were putting the finishing touches on a paper mache' donkey that was to travel down the aisle of our church on Palm Sunday. We had mounted the covered chicken wire to a rolling base so the donkey could be pulled through waving Palm branches.
"Lori, you do a great job with the kids." said the local Director of Special Education.
"Thanks, Rowena." I answered. She stood there watching as the kids worked on painting our creation gray and I attached yarn for a tail.
"Listen," she continued, "I have a teacher that is taking maternity leave for six weeks and I was wondering if you would be willing to fill in for her during that time. She teaches a class for students that are Severely Mentally Handicapped at the elementary school on the north side of town."
"Sure." I said. "Just let me know what I need to do."
Now, I have always believed I could always do whatever I put my mind to and I wasn't working at the time but in retrospect, I can't believe I didn't hesitate just a little bit. A teacher? A special education teacher? I figured I could do anything for six weeks, how hard could it be?
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