My most endearing memories are from the days when I taught special education. Before I go any further, please believe me that I loved those dear boys and girls and chose special-ed voluntarily. I've felt terribly empty since retiring. The reason I'm writing today is that some of the kids' actions were downright entertaining.
The teachers had to follow many rules, but two of them summed up the entire relationship between teacher and developmentally delayed kids: (1) Do not show shock, no matter what the youngster says or does, and (2) never laugh at genuine effort.
Certain basic social skills had to be practiced over and over, no matter how old a student was. For example all of them had to be reminded frequently how important "Please" and "Thank You" are. We also spent regular effort on speaking in a soft voice when discussing private things such as a trip to the restroom.
On the day that I'm remembering right now, Bucky, a gentle young teen with multiple difficulties, left a group activity and came to me. He chose his words carefully in accord with his own skills, and asked permission to go to the "bat," his word for "bathroom" or "restroom." I assented, and out the door he went. Several minutes passed and I became a little worried. Maybe I should send another boy to check on Bucky. There were all sorts of ways that a special-ed kid could run into trouble outside of his own classroom.
"Some other boy in the bat. We did a jackie and make a squirt!"
His words carried a definite degree of pride about this wondrous encounter, and what's more, he had just informed the entire class that he had masturbated with a random kid. Not everybody in the room understood, but several boys had a peculiar grin. This incident was going to raise hell. It need some careful straightening-out.
"Oh, Bucky" I groaned, probably revealing a definite amount of forbidden shock.
"Remember to keep private things private!"
"It's okay, Mr. Doe!" He put a hand on my shoulder.
"It's okay! I told that boy 'Please' and 'Thank You!'"
Hopefully Bucky was not disciplined for his jackie and squirt. That brief sexual escapade with the other boy was probably the most wonderful event that would happen him long into the future.
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