That’s my boy
February 7, 2008Please allow me a proud parent moment, two or three years ago Joe, when he was about seven, was having a pretty tough time learning to read and write and its fair to say his confidence took a bit a hammering
When he went to bed at night, he left a little notes across the landing, like this, which reads ‘I hate school’
And others that read ‘I am a dumb head’ They were heartbreaking.
Every single moment of your school day when you are that age seems to be judged against your ability to read and write, even if you are a whiz at maths or science, your not going to get very far if you can’t read the question. School was miserable, and so was Joe; but following an assessment, that identified his dyslexic strengths and weaknesses and which gave us and the school some guidance in what extra support he needed, he has blossomed; now he will disappear off for a couple of hours to read a book and when he had some points to raise at school, in his capacity as Road Safety Officer (its a role he takes very seriously ) he decided to put his concerns in writing to the head.
Dear Mr Gregory
Lately I have spotted a few problems I would like to improve since it is my job as road safety officer
Problems
I have spotted at about 5:00pm the lights in the car park are off and it is hazardous to some people
Also my mum noticed the bush had been trimmed when leaving the car park and joining the main road and has asked whether it could be cut back further so cyclist on the cycle lane know if they are going to be run over or not
From
Joe Uphilldowndale.
![clip_image001[1]](http://uphilldowndale.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/clip-image0011.gif){kind=small}
The lights are fixed and the bush has been cut back, that’s my boy.
Joe does good work. Would he be available to lobby my County Road Commission?
Michigan poet Terry Wooten is dyslexic, too. That’s why he memorizes poems (over 500 so far) and treasures the oral tradition. He was a talented football player, so no one ever called him a dumbhead - although I suspect they might have thought it.
Hi UHDD Good on Joe! Our son Mark went to a school for children with Moderate Learning Disabilities, as he had a speech problem, He loved school excelled at all sport, worked hard, but always had this feeling that he wasnt as good as his friends at home which upset him at times, When he left school he was determined to do sports and we tried many colleges for courses most turned him away said he would not cope, eventually we found one and he did coaching course, Marks granny paid for him to do a pool lifeguard course, and on his 1st day as a lifeguard he said to me “I’m like everybody else now” At 24 hes now going as asst sports manager at a Holiday park in Northumberland! We are so proud of Mark coz he fought for what he wanted, and got it!
All the best
Joan
It must be so dispiriting and upsetting for both child and parent(s). Good on both him and you for tackling, and overcoming, this. Also well done on Joe undertaking his Road Safety officer duties as he does.
I’m sure that you must be proud of him, and rightly so.
Have a good weekend.
We are proud, we have an excellent poet in the UK,who is dyslexic, Benjamin Zephaniah
http://www.benjaminzephaniah.com/content/rhyming.php
Joe has really enjoyed his novels, which are pitched perfectly for a teenage audience.
Joan you must be proud of your boy too! Self esteem, determination and confidence it seems, to me at any rate, to be far more valuable than a fistful of qualifications.
*bravo bravo!*