Shine in Line

Over the Holiday's I was inquiring with some relatives about two boys I worked with nine years ago who are now in 11th grade. The boys are both Autistic and I think of them often. Each was given a different path. One is still taking part in regular high school while the other has gone to different schools and removed from regular Mainstream.

I have always believed that a solid parent foundation is critical as an integral part to a child's education. The child still in high school has parents who have always fought for his rights and understood the law when it came to battling with school district special services who tried to circumvent the rules because of funding.

The other boy who no longer is being mainstreamed had a rough family foundation where the mother relied on the so-called school system experts to guide her to what was best for her son. I tried to intervene as a lone wolf when school education leaders wanted to remove him from being mainstreamed. I would have stayed with the boy as long as possible to make sure he was given a proper education and guidance as to what the law stated but I was overruled. I later left the school district because of those decisions. Perhaps it was meant to be based on what I have done since then but I would give it all back if I knew I could have truly helped.

I was throwing away some old papers today when I came across this poem I wrote nine years ago...

At 11:45 we start to get antsy while he smiles like an old gray fox
At noon we go to our lockers and get our Sponge Bob lunch box
He then checks our shoelaces and pulls up our socks.

Then it’s back to class and get called in to line
We shuffle to the back because he said that’s where we shine
He walks with us quietly and whispers all will be fine.

As we walk quietly in line headed to the lunchroom we go
We then search for a place at a table where a friend might show
While the man who is with us sits across the room laying low.

Often times we don’t eat and we just play with our food
Then the lunch lady turns and signal to the man that we are being crude
He then stands where we can see; and gives us the “Look” we best eat before he gets in a mood.

After we eat we go to recess, sometimes it’s in, but we hope it’s out
It all depends if the flags are green hanging about
Yellow means stay inside then we groan and pout.
Today we go outside and play on the playground equipment
We hope a friend will stop and play even if for a minute
But most of the time we play alone and it seems to be infinite.

At 12:35 the whistle blows loud and sometimes we cover our ears
You see the decibel and noise level brings out some fears
But we know we are safe because our guardian is always near.

Another lunch has come and another has gone by
Sometimes we get into trouble and sometimes we cry
But mostly we wonder about friends and ask him WHY?

After we line up we will try not to talk and to stay in line
Then our teacher meets us and says you all look fine
And the man who walks behind smiles and says we shine!