Good Kids

In the last two days I have witnessed a couple of events that really demonstrated how good our children can be.

Yesterday, during the noon league softball game, one of our autistic children, Jason, came out on the field. He was standing in the field and I called him over to me on the sidelines, so as to keep him safe. He then proceeded to head over to the bats, and pick one up and get in the batter's box, jumping ahead of the team that was already up to bat. Since he seemed so eager, I told the pitcher to go ahead and give him a couple of pitches, and assured the team up to bat that this would be a minor detour in the game. The pitcher lobbed one over the plate and Wham! Jason smacked it up the middle and took off to first base. He safely made it, and was hopping up and down with excitement. This is where I became even more proud of the other students. Their encouragement of Jason, and helping him as he ran from base to base as the other batters hit was impressive. The opposing team members would tell him to stay on the base, and when to run, and when he made it home, there was much cheering and high fiving from both teams. When it was Jason's team's time to head out in the field, one of our fifth grade girls took off her mitt, and handed it to Jason. The next time his team was up to bat, they made sure he had a chance to bat again. All of this was of their own doing with no adults telling them they needed to include him.

The second incident I want to share happened today at recess. During the upper grade recess two fifth grade boys, Ricky and Brandon had come down to the basketball courts to shoot some hoops. At the same time, Ms. Sperry's kindergartners were out playing. As the two older boys started shooting the ball, it attracted some of the kindergartners. Ricky handed the ball to one of the kindergartners and encouraged him to shoot it. Before long there was a swarm of little guys on the court, and Ricky and Brandon organized them into a line and had the kindergartners come up and take a shot, then head to the back of the line. This lasted the entire recess, and by the time the bell had rung, neither Ricky or Brandon had taken more than two shots, but nearly every kindergartner had taken many. Again, this was a completely spontaneous act that I observed from a distance.

I couldn't be prouder of my students than I was after these two examples of everyday kindness. Parents, I commend you for raising such nice children.