An Open Letter to Our School

Dear Teachers, Principal, Assistant Principal, Superintendent, and Students:

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for the learning experiences you have provided my son.

You may not be aware of this, but my son has Asperger's Disorder. "What is that?" You ask.

Well, it is the reason he won't look at you when you speak to him or say "hi" to you when you say "hi" in the hallway, even though he desperately wants to be your friend.

It is the reason he walks around on the playground looking at rocks instead of playing, because he does not know how to join in.

It is the reason he blurts out answers in the middle of class, despite the teacher never having called on him.

It is the reason that he holds his ears and cries during pep rallies and assemblies, because he doesn't just hear the noise. He hears every noise.

It is the reason that in the lunchroom he makes inappropriate noises or speaks too loudly.

It is the reason when he gets anxious, he sings or hums during class or makes extra trips to the restroom to get away and calm himself.

It is the reason he tells on his friends for not following instructions during group projects. He is not being a snitch. He just has a strong sense of right and wrong.

It is the reason his desk has papers sticking out in all directions and he cannot find anything.

It is the reason that, as one P.E. teacher told him, "he runs like a six-year-old."

It is the reason he comes home from school and bursts out crying because his "friends" called him "gay" or "arrogant" or "stupid."

It is the reason he says he wants to "not be in this world anymore" when a teacher he respects says he is "weird."

Now that you understand my son a little better, please accept my gratitude for his exceptional education.

A sincere thank you to his 2nd grade teacher for allowing him to be "quirky" because that was his personality. He still talks about you.

Thank you to his 3rd grade teacher for helping him with his organizational and study skills.

Thank you to his 4th grade teacher for deciding that he was a behavior problem and driving him to the point of trying to hurt himself at nine-years-old and resulting in a trip to the hospital. It's okay because she had had an autistic child before, so she knew what she was doing.

Thank you to his 5th grade teacher for showing him kindness and lenience and patience.

Thank you to the students who tease him and call him names and goad him. I am sure that was a fun time!

Thank you to the Music and PE teachers for their aforementioned motivational efforts.

Thank you to the School Psychologist for, as she put it, "not knowing how to handle him since he presented as Gifted and Autistic." That made things so much easier on him.

Thank you to the Guidance Counselor that instructed him in a group project which led to his suspension for two days.

A special thank you to the principal, that in her infinite wisdom and dedication to all of her students, refused to permit the IEP accommodations to which he was entitled and for suspending him for an action that did not occur, which she would have realized if she was true to her calling as an educator.

Thank you to the school district as well for their support of the principal and otherwise general apathy.

All of my son's experiences with you have taught him perseverance and that fairness and kindness are not found in everyone; that all teachers are not intent on his full education, although they are happy to take credit for his test scores. You have taught him how to be strong in the face of adversity. So for that, I thank you. He has received quite an education.

Sincerely,

Mom