A day in the life of a Speech Language Pathologist

This picture is from 2 years ago. A student wrote "I love Miss. D." My students steal my heart every day. I am so blessed to see them learn and to see them grow. The classroom teacher sees them every day for a year. I see them 1-2 times a week, but I have been working with some of the same students for 3 years.

Today a student was asking me if I'd rather be in school or have a job. I told him I have the best of both worlds with my job. I get a paycheck but follow a school schedule. But that's not why I love my job.

I have a lot of fun interacting with my students and listening to them. Kids love to talk; I think it's very important that they have an audience, even if it's an audience of one. Being heard is important. I enjoy listening to my students, even if I cannot understand them.

So what do I do all day? I really do play all day in between the paperwork, testing, report writing, and scheduling of meetings (and rescheduling; of 7 scheduled meetings this week, only 4 occurred).

I watched a group of first graders play with toys and describe elaborate scenarios. I listened to them tell me all about transformers and Optimus Prime. I helped a group of second grade students write each step of their soccer trick. I played Uno with a group of third grade boys working on producing their speech sounds spontaneously. I played Guess Who with a 7th grade student. I showed a few yoga poses to a group of 4th and 5th grade boys but found it more effective when one of the students taught the poses.

A student gave me a Tweety silly band.

I worked with a 6th grade student who seemed to be having an off day.

I took orders from a first grade student as he asked me to put the envelope I needed him to give to his mom in his cubby. I laughed as I let him delegate. Perhaps one day he will be a manager or CEO.

I was asked a question to which I didn't know the answer. I wish I could remember the question; this student always has a question.

I watch these students grow, and I pray to God that He uses me to help them.

Standing on my soap box

While in Chicago, I read the following article in the NY Times, in my Ipod touch.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/us/07bully.html?pagewanted=1&sq=tolerance%20public%20school&st=cse&scp=1

This article merged my old "secular humanist" world with my current "Christian" world. The article reminded me as to why I'm not a fan of the label "Christian," yet I can finally accept it, because I am a follower of Christ.

The article discusses how school districts are trying to promote acceptance of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered students and families while receiving backlash from heterosexual families concerned that students are hearing about such topics too explicitly or too soon.

Here is a haunting quote: “Anyone who reads this document can see that it promotes acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle,” one mother said at a six-hour school board meeting in late September.

I believe acceptance is precisely the point! Her quote seems to indicate that American culture has not yet fully accepted the homosexual lifestyle.

Here is when the term "Christian" begins to be thrown into the mix: “Of course we’re all against bullying,” Mr. DeMato, one of numerous pastors who opposed the plan, said in an interview. “But the Bible says very clearly that homosexuality is wrong, and Christians don’t want the schools to teach subjects that are repulsive to their values.”

As a Christian (and I hope I don't screw up the gospel in this post), my heart sank as I read the article. Who made Christians the ultimate judges of what to teach?

How dare someone challenge Christian values.

So, lets discuss Christian values. The Bible also says not to lie, steal, covet thy neighbor's goods (which seems to be the core of capitalism), etc. Clearly, we are all guilty of violating God's laws. The law is intended to show us our own need for a Savior. Enter Jesus Christ. He came to die for our sins. Who did Jesus spend much of his time with aside from the Apostles? The sick, the abandoned outcasts of society, prostitutes, tax-collectors: the people with whom the Pharisees (a self-righteous group who made up laws to follow to please God) refused to associate.

Therefore, as Christians, I'm fairly certain we should spend our time loving those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered.

This last quote moves me as an educator. But one of the objecting parents, Tammi Shulz, who describes herself as a traditional Christian, said, “I just don’t think it’s great to talk about homosexuality with 5-year-olds.”

It seems like a valid point, correct? How can one argue with such a point? Who wants to steal a piece of innocence from a child? This year is my third year as a speech language pathologist. This year, I work with a 4 year old who has two mothers. The little girl is adopted and will be given a plethora of opportunities that her (heterosexual) birth mother could not provide. The other day a kindergarten teacher told me how one of the female students I work with wants to be a boy. There is a first grade student who also has two mothers.

Like it or not, age 5 may not be too young after all.

Out of curiosity, does the term "traditional" Christian imply there is a "radical" or "liberal" Christian? Jesus and his teachings were radical. He calls us to do radical things, like love those who are poor and marginalized. He calls us to love people who make us feel uncomfortable. I fail at this all the time, which is why I praise Jesus for loving everyone. He loves the "traditional" Christians, the rich, the poor, the atheists; he loves you and me. Jesus knows who we are and loves us so much.

I truly would like some thoughts and feedback from my Christian friends. Part of the reason why I stopped believing in God was related to how "Christians" did not accept homosexual people. I'm new to the Christian world and I'd like to hear others' opinions.