"Don't Tell Me What I Can't Do," Says Disabled Valedictorian in Louisiana

The Alexandria, LA, Daily Town Talk ^ | 05-23-03 | Crooks, Sarah

[Theodore R.]

He made a 32 on the ACT.

He has a 4.0 grade-point average.

He'll be honored tonight as one of Tioga High School's valedictorians of the class of 2003.

But Damein Delrie started his academic career in special-education classes.

"Back then, if you had a disability, they automatically put you in special ed," said Damein, 17. "It was the only way they had to meet your needs."

[Theodore R.]

It's refreshing to see people overcome the odds against them.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

What odds were against him? He has a physical disability, not a mental disability!

[COBOL2Java]

I love to read stories like this! For a brief time early in my career I worked in the Orthopedic Wing of a Special Education school. I saw kids like Damein, who had an indefatigable spirit inside what others percieved to be a "broken" body. Always made me pause when I was tempted to complain about my own life problems.

[COBOL2Java]

percieved = perceived

'i' before 'e', except after 'c'....sigh

[wimpycat]

Half the time, I really don't think of myself as having a disability," Damein said.

That's understandable. If you're born that way, that's just the way you are--you're not used to any other way.

[T Minus Four]

Sounds like a great kid, but where are the parents? Did they dump on him?

[Theodore R.]

Many people quietly yield to the odds against them. This student instead chose to fight to overcome the odds. A physical handicap is too much for many to overcome.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Fair enough, though as the article stated, he could count to 100 when he was a year old!

[Mr. Bird]

as one of Tioga High School's valedictorians

Nice story, but how many valedictorians are there? We used to have just one. Is everyone on the football team a captain?

[Theodore R.]

It may be that with grade inflation there are four or five with all A's -- 4.0. Of course, this boy is not the one responsible for grade inflation. Grade inflation is popular in every state -- parents like it, students "benefit" from it, administrators encourage it, reporters turn a blind eye to it.

[HAL9000]

Great article from Louisiana.

Games Uniting Mind and Body Organization

Hey, that's GUMBO!

[RomanCatholicProlifer]

exactly, now if these cry babies and whiners who complain they cannot get a job would have this same attitude.

[Theodore R.]

Also grade inflation has its down-side: do the people who endorse grade inflation really want a brain surgeon performing on them who was a lifelong "beneficiary" of grade inflation?

[boris]

"Don't Tell Me What I Can't Do," Says Disabled Valedictorian in Louisiana

I'll tell you what you can't do:

- Be a linebacker for an NFL football team.
- Be a performer in Cirque de Soliel.
- Invent the next dance craze. Hey Macarena!
- Become an astronaut, unless it is as 'cargo'.

That do for a start?

--Boris

[Orange1998]

With that kind of attitude we would all be speaking German.

[Theodore R.]

Well, Boris, you can qualify for the "meanie" of the day -- just telling the truth can make one "mean" in this Age of Clinton.

[boris]

"With that kind of attitude we would all be speaking German."

And why--specifically--is that?

Did you notice I did not tell him he could not become the successor to Stephen Hawking?...

Or a best-selling novelist like Tom Clancy?...

=========================

The problem at the root here is 'radical egalitarianism' which is slowly strangling us to death. Some people are simply better at some pursuits than others.

Every time I see a bunch of fat girls in the cheerleading squad it reminds me of how far we have fallen.

Being rotund myself, I did not insist on a place in my high-school football team's roster. I *DID* play chess for our 'varsity' team, though.

No, sorry, a cripple cannot become a champion high-diver.

Do you suppose Christopher Reeve is still in demand to play 'Superman'?

Life is tough that way sometimes.

--Boris

[Mfkmmof4]

Unfortunately, you are judged based on physical appearance. It sounds like he was raised normally...thank God for that! I have a 12 year old autistic child who some have given up on but lately he is telling me he wants to grow up and be dad. Maybe he will!