The 2011 Edition of Crawford Education Comes to a Close

The year-end classroom hoopla was kept, mercifully, at a minimum - Gracie's kindies enjoyed a pizza party in Bison Park, Shane's 1 and 2nd grade combo class also availed themselves of the Park and munchies, and Ty's 4th grade ice cream social...well, that was extraordinary. On all levels. Most notably for its lack of 'partyness' altogether: we brought in some ice cream, cones and toppings, and the kids proceeded to sit criss-cross-applesauce on the floor, participating in a classroom discussion revolving around the things they gained this year as students: how they grew regarding reading comprehension, mastery of math skills, critical thinking. They did this willingly, excitedly, eloquently, for nearly an hour. In an orderly fashion, taking turns, building on one another's thoughts.

The grand finale was their phenom first-year teacher, Ms. Sellers, and her explanation to the assembled parents the benefits of the classroom's location directly next door to the lab used by the SSN (Students with Special Needs) kids - how in the beginning, when a child with Down's or autism would wander into the class, the reaction was horrified silence, averted eyes, or pleas for help from the teacher to put them where they 'belonged'. By Christmas, they knew each visitor by name, exchanged high fives, and even learned along with their favorite 1st grade visitor Ainsley, a special song titled "There's No One Who's Just Like Me, There's No One Just Like You."

As we watched those 30 kids cheer when she came into the party and sing with her, hands waving in the air in unison...how blessed I felt that Ty had this experience in this classroom. All of the private and charter schools in the world couldn't give him what this room did. What a wonder a public school education is. Hallelujah.