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The Class Photo that Broke a Mother’s Heart
yahoo.com ^ | June 17, 2013

Posted on 06/17/2013 5:42:11 PM PDT by grundle

What is wrong with this picture?

It's one of those things that you don't get, until you get it. Unless you are eternally empathetic, you look at this photo and don't see much wrong at all.

To Anne Belanger, mother of Miles, the photo is unbearable to look at.

When the class portrait for her son's Grade 2 class came home, she opened it excitedly, and immediately shoved it back in the envelope. She couldn't look at it. It broke her heart.

Anne's son, Miles, has Spinal Muscular Atrophy. At the age of 13 months, his parents were told that Miles would never walk, he has spent his life in a wheelchair.

Miles knows he's different than the rest of the kids, but he still tries to fit in. So there he is, on the far side of the image, neck craning as far as he can to stretch into the frame with the rest of his friends. He's beaming. It's school picture day and he's thrilled.

But the photo still broke Anne's heart. The photo was a clear example of how set apart her son is from society. Instead of a big group hug photo with Miles at the center, and classmates and teachers all around, a fully inclusive image, he was stuffed off to the side, some 3 feet away. An after thought, it seems.

(Excerpt) Read more at shine.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: chat; classphoto; disabled; schoolphoto; specialneeds; wheelchair
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To: umgud

As a photographer, I don’t agree. It’s a pathetic and appalling photograph, and wasn’t necessary. Wheelchair in the middle wasn’t necessary either. A little creative, thought could have found a better solution, but this is all you get for $100.


41 posted on 06/17/2013 6:01:59 PM PDT by kabumpo (Kabumpo)
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To: umgud

As a photographer, I don’t agree. It’s a pathetic and appalling photograph, and wasn’t necessary. Wheelchair in the middle wasn’t necessary either. A little creative, thought could have found a better solution, but this is all you get for $100.


42 posted on 06/17/2013 6:02:08 PM PDT by kabumpo (Kabumpo)
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To: grundle
Mom is looking at the wrong thing.

Look at the grin on his face, mom!!! He's happy he's with the other kids.

Sadly, there are kids that can't even be part of a group.

43 posted on 06/17/2013 6:02:29 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: grundle

As the father of a handicap child I can tell you that, these kind of superficial slights don’t bother me in the least.

We seek the approval of men when we have been so blessed by God.


44 posted on 06/17/2013 6:02:36 PM PDT by freedomson (Tagline comment removed by moderator)
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To: umgud

As a photographer, I don’t agree. It’s a pathetic and appalling photograph, and wasn’t necessary. Wheelchair in the middle wasn’t necessary either. A little creative, thought could have found a better solution, but this is all you get for $100.


45 posted on 06/17/2013 6:03:00 PM PDT by kabumpo (Kabumpo)
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To: usconservative
Or slide the kids over to the right side of the benches/platform they were on to close the gap, either one would've worked.

Exactly. Its a simple photographer's mistake and I doubt any offense was intended.
46 posted on 06/17/2013 6:03:18 PM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: grundle

Plot Twist:
Miles typically has very bad gas and was experiencing major issues that morning. this picture shows him leaning over as he’s ‘squeezing one out’


47 posted on 06/17/2013 6:03:33 PM PDT by sten (fighting tyranny never goes out of style)
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To: freedomson

I should’ve said, “we don’t seek the approval of men”


48 posted on 06/17/2013 6:03:54 PM PDT by freedomson (Tagline comment removed by moderator)
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To: cripplecreek

Bingo! This stupid example of a teacher—pains me to see the little guy off and away.


49 posted on 06/17/2013 6:04:11 PM PDT by SgtHooper (The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on the list.)
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To: KittenClaws
Are we so cold hearted, that we lack compassion?

Real compassion would have forced everyone to be in a wheelchair for the pic.

50 posted on 06/17/2013 6:04:53 PM PDT by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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To: grundle
What was supposed to happen? The kid sits in the benches?

Maybe they didn't know that he could sit up on his own? Maybe the boy declined to sit there? There are plenty of questions that ought to be asked. The mother seems to assume a lot.

Not to defend the public school system in any way but we can't jump to conclusions.
51 posted on 06/17/2013 6:05:39 PM PDT by Wanderer99
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To: usconservative

It’s not being “intentional” is the very problem.


52 posted on 06/17/2013 6:06:00 PM PDT by kabumpo (Kabumpo)
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To: grundle
Ugh. Clearly the Mom drew more symbolism from this than was intended - it's an awful picture because it's a clumsy picture, taken by someone with no eye to composition at all. The photographer should be embarrassed, and no one else.

What is relevant is not some compositional blunder but how the little guy is accepted by the other kids sitting (where they were told) in the picture. That's the only relationship that matters.

53 posted on 06/17/2013 6:06:27 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: cripplecreek

Maybe you need to relax. As a photog myself I would have used a different, more inclusive pose. It’s a school picture, chill out.


54 posted on 06/17/2013 6:06:28 PM PDT by 23 Everest (When seconds count. The police are just 23 minutes away. 831 Bonnie)
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To: usconservative

It’s not being “intentional” is the very problem.


55 posted on 06/17/2013 6:06:33 PM PDT by kabumpo (Kabumpo)
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To: grundle

He’s tucked right in next the bench, as close as he can get. And while it’s sad that he has muscular dystrophy, the parents should be pleased that he has adjusted so well to it and is smiling that big smile.

He looks like a great kid, to me. And that’s the important thing.


56 posted on 06/17/2013 6:06:46 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: usconservative

It’s not being “intentional” is the very problem.


57 posted on 06/17/2013 6:06:55 PM PDT by kabumpo (Kabumpo)
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To: kabumpo
It’s not being “intentional” is the very problem.

'Splain please....

58 posted on 06/17/2013 6:07:00 PM PDT by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
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To: usconservative

It’s not being “intentional” is the very problem.


59 posted on 06/17/2013 6:07:02 PM PDT by kabumpo (Kabumpo)
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To: usconservative

It’s not being “intentional” is the very problem.


60 posted on 06/17/2013 6:07:15 PM PDT by kabumpo (Kabumpo)
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