Lincoln County Journal  

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Delta Kappa Gamma International-Theta Chapter

Reported by Begi Hatmaker

Theta Chapter met Nov. 11, at the home of Theta member State Representative Wendy Jaquet in Ketchum. The meeting began at 10 a.m. with a tremendous speaker, David Holmes, executive director of the Lee Pesky Learning Center in Boise, Idaho.

Blaine County schools are in partnership with the Boise Learning Center which deals with services for children with learning challenges. Mr. Holmes sat on a low foot stool in front of his audience looking directly into our eyes and holding us in rapt attention as he talked about developing a child's early literacy skills. How I wished young parents, and parents-to-be could have heard him! I wished I had know these things before becoming a parent or teacher. He said, "...there is something wrong and unfair when an individual is not provided avenues for reaching one's dream."

Not much was known about the brain during most of my life. Mr. Homes pointed out that, "we have learned more about how the brain functions in the last ten years than in the previous 500 years." A story entitled, "Casey's Story" reminded me of a dear ten year-old boy in my fifth grade class many years ago. I love you Chris.

Chris started his fifth year in remedial reading. He disliked leaving my room for remedial so much that he cried. I think he knew that after four years he was not learning to read. I knew Chris was above average in intelligence. He could remember what he heard during class discussions and was a good communicator.

After a discussion with the principle, Chris was given permission to remain in fifth grade room for the full day. Students who wanted to be in band were started in fifth grade. Chris was eager to start band. That year we had a new, young music teacher who invited those who wanted to start band to meet him in the auditorium. Most of my students, including Chris, left for the auditorium. A couple of days later, Chris returned by himself early from band and told me, the teacher said he could not be in band.

Chris was broken hearted, so using my longevity in years and seniority in teaching, I ran down the hall and with the word, "Why?" I stopped the music teacher before he left the building. The answer to my "why" was, "that boy is too dumb to be in band." Needless to say that morning, the young music teacher learned a few things having nothing to do with music. Chris was back in band the next day. He continued in band throughout  high school, charming the students and community with his drumming ability. Somehow, probably by his determination and engaging personality, Chris graduated from high school. Afterwards he worked a while in carpentry work. This reminded me of his building bird house for the ESA (Environmental Study Area) located outside my classroom windows.

After working in carpentry a while, I heard Chris has enrolled in Boise State University. Well!! Somewhere along his lifeline, he was diagnosed with dyslexia and was taught to compensate for the learning disorder. Chris graduate from BSU with a degree in nursing. Wow! He now has been for several years a nurse at St. Luke's Hospital. I don't think any "dumb" person could be a nurse. Come to think of it, perhaps there aren't any "dumb" people - only people who do or say dumb things. In my thirty five years teaching, Chris' story is the most successful one I have ever encountered.

Mr. Holmes displayed books that should be in hands of every young parent as well as those who plan to be a parent. The cost is $12 and can be ordered at Lee Pesky Learning Center, 3324 Elder Street, Boise, Idaho 83705. Copyright 2006. Lee Pesky Learning Center is a nonprofit organization specializing in helping with learning disabilities. Its philosophy is that all people can be taught how to learn and deserve to reach their fullest potential in reading, writing, and math. The Center opened in 1997 to celebrate the life and accomplishments of the late Lee David Pesky and to offer children and adults opportunities similar to those that helped Lee David Pesky overcome his learning disabilities.

This long report of Theta meeting is written to challenge parent teacher associations and/or organizations, also parents in general, to learn about help now available. It is the desire of Mr. Holmes that partnerships or satellites, (my word) such as Blaine County has with the Boise Center, be set up in other counties. Don't let a child become discouraged by sitting in a remedial reading class year after year knowing he/she is not learning to read.

Other Delta Kappa news followed finishing up this article in the Lincoln County Journal.

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