Posted on 11/27/2012 4:02:52 PM PST by rawhide
PALM BAY, Fla. — For most of Acacia Woodley's 10 years, she has noticed people staring at her and, at times, whispering about her.
The sixth-grader at Palm Bay Elementary School has learned to stand up for herself. Born without a right hand and a deformed left one, she has embraced what she calls her "difference." It's part of what makes Acacia, Acacia.
"Some people say they feel sorry for me. I tell them not to be," she said. "I don't care that I'm different. I like that I'm different."
Moving from the Caribbean to South Carolina, then to Arizona, and finally Florida, Acacia realized there were bullies everywhere.
After arriving in Brevard, she decided to do something about it. She proposed a place where anyone could go when they need a friend, when they could use some support or reassurance. Or even a hug.
A "friendship bench."
If a student sits on the bench, it's a signal to classmates — and nearby adults — it's time to become a friend. Acacia borrowed the idea from something she'd seen in South Carolina.
Acacia's first friendship bench sits in the Palm Bay Elementary School lobby, a brightly painted, Adirondack-stye place to sit.
So far, it's been put to good use and has proven such a popular idea that other schools are inquiring about one, too.
(Excerpt) Read more at ajc.com ...
lol!!
Yes, you deserve recompense
I always was assigned to the library where I would read whatever book I was reading, or the multi-media shop.
I was the only one that knew where all the parts were for the 16mm projectors.
In Mrs. Deaver's biology class, she sent me to get projectors (is it serial number ending in 179? good).
I went through that biology class because I also spoke french, and there was a Vietnamese refugee tagging along beside me for a year that didn't speak much english when she arrived.
Deaver knew I had read Whittle's papers (I was aiming for Air Force back then), along with Crick's, didn't need the class, and released me as soon as 'our girl' was settled.
I never got bored in school. There was too much to upset.
/johnny
How many adhd kids does it take to screw in a lightbulb?...you wanna go play baseball?
Thank you very much!! Reading these comments mean so much
I do dishes every night!!
I want to be a marine biologist! That is why I live in Florida!
Thank you!
My mother, although she believed i wouldn’t accomplish much she doesn’t believe in abortion so no i would’ve came into this world either way!
Thank you so much! You made my day
I haven’t got those comments yet! But you got a laugh out of me!!
I know what it feels like to move, I have been to way too many schools! When I was at Palm Bay elementary school (i no longer am in elementary) it was the longest i have ever been in a school which was 2 years!
Exactly! I hear things! I’m not paranoid, the correct word i go by is weird
I think of myself being good!
Not paranoid, i can hear things! Paranoid is not the correct word, i go by weird!
I think of myself being good!
It took me a minute to figure out why I was pinged to an old thread.
/johnny
Funny...I’m weird too.
;)
Rock on Acacia..Rock on.
I don’t blame the kids in the article for anything, the really weird stuff usually comes from the adults. Kids are childish. When I was in 6th grade there was a kid who was pretty deformed but he had a heck of a lot of friends and I never or heard anyone make fun of him. As a matter of fact I have an inkling he might have been a good student.
We should all try to be good and never stop trying.
Indeed, I was reading my articles last night and figured i would respond to my “ fans”
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