Alright, here's the story.

At my school there is one girl in my class who uses a wheelchair to get around. For the most part she always has to have someone assisting her because her body strength is, I guess, not stable.

My teacher made each of her students be this girl's "partner" at least once. We would all sit next to her for a week. She said she wanted to make the girl feel comfortable in getting to know each of us, and for us to get to know her in return.

The whole class went through being her partner (one student a week) and now my teacher is going through the list again. I, being at the top of the teacher's roster, am now the girl's partner for this week (this is the second time).

I silently made a comment to my friend as I was leaving my original desk. I said I didn't want to be this girl's partner. My friend told me I was mean. FYI, I'm more of a reserved person; I don't care who you are; I don't want to be set up to be made friends with you.

It's great my teacher is trying to include this girl with each of us. I think trying to include her is more or less excluding her. By that I mean it's singling her out as 'different' that we all must get 'accustomed to.'

I have nothing against the girl. Just because she is in a wheelchair does not give her reason to be treated differently. I don't want to treat her any less or any more just because she's in a wheelchair.

Do you all get what I'm saying?

 

I support your comments 100% I totally get where you're coming from. I would have felt the same way as you, but I was probably more reserved.

 

I know if I was in a wheelchair, I would tell the teacher to NOT place a 'special buddy' with me each week. I would want to be treated like everyone else.

 

Yes and NO.

I have a guy I work with that is disabled. The dude is cool as hell. He doesnt want to be treated any differently, But he sometimes needs help with a door, and that is understandable.

If this girl has trouble getting around due to upper body strength, I would be more then happy to help her out. As anyone should,

~BUT~

Your teacher is in the wrong for singling her out like that. That is something she needs to request, not given. IMO

 

I hear what your saying. Kind of a sensitive topic to bring up around people. But have you mentioned anything to the teacher that you have these feelings? I would would say something in private to the teacher. I agree the student is being singled out and being made a task or chore not friend. That's not right.

 

I haven't talked to the teacher about it since I've only begun to think about this tonight. Being her partner usually means, well I'm not sure what it means! To just sit there in class, I guess, and be partners with her when it comes to groupwork stuff.

Just felt like saying what's on my mind, that's all.

 

I can understand what your saying being that you’re young, and that’s a good thing. However, the way I would look at it is to use this experience as a learning experience.

What I mean by that is in life, after you leave school, you will find many times through out your life you will have to do things that you just don’t want to do and/or don’t feel comfortable doing but regardless will just have to do it unless of course you decide to live a miserable life.

Now, if the teacher was making you take care of her, wheeling her from class to class and performing task for her etc then I would say that is wrong, unless it is just helping her out in class like it seems to be what you’re describing.

There is a lot that can be learned from disabled people and most of all is just how lucky those of us who are not disabled actually are. Just imagine all the things she can not do that you and all your friends can do. Just imagine how she must feel having people stare at her, or what she must think many people think of her because of her condition.

That’s not to say those who are disabled are not productive because many of them are very productive, but just imagine not being able to run, kick a ball, dance at the school dance and then ask yourself:

“Is it really so bad to be a friend, to help someone else just a little, even if for only a week?”

 

What kind of class is this happening in? What
I am guessing that you are at the college level.
Just curious...

 

Ford Lariat.. I totally understand where your coming from. Its just not right for the teacher to single this girl out and force her on to everyone in the class. Im sure the girl is not stupid and will be able to tell if someone is helping here because they HAVE to or because they really WANT to. There's a big difference.

Like 01 said, you can take it as a learning experience and be thankful for what you have and can do, which she cannot. BUT..01, you have to understnad that it isnt right to be forced into being FRIENDS. No matter what, life deals everyone a different hand. And im not trying to be an A-hole here. I just think its actually worse to single her out and make her feel like she needs help, when she really may not. Maybe she doesnt even want it, but is to affraid to say something to the teacher. Theres a lot of variables here. Ford Lariat..if it bothers you that much, I would talk to the teacher in private and have her have someone else do it for the rest of the week. Or you can just do it for the week, maybe try talking to the girl and see what shes like. Hell, you might even make a friend out of it. But the most important thing is if your not comfortable, you have to say something to the teacher.

 

This reminds me of the south park episode with the nurse who had the dead fetus attached to her head

I agree, it is kind of lame of the teacher to force you guys to make friends with her just because the girl is in a wheelchair...let the girl find her own clique's, thats what high school is all about

 

I don't have a problem helping her; I just don't want to be responsible for her.

Hell, teachers scare me! lol

It's a sign language class in high school.

 

Personally, I think your teacher is wrong for singleing the student out like that. I dont know much about the situation, but i think she's wrong.
I knew a guy in high school that was in a wheelchair--drunk driver hit him when he was 3 and was paralyzed from the waist down. He was cool as hell though, we used to steal his wheelchair and race down the hall in it when he would get out of it...i got pretty good at wheelies. He also had an old POS Grand Am with hand controls that he drove to school. He did some hell'a burnouts in that thing...lots of fun!!!

 

that's funny right there, stealing his wheelchair

 

i grew up in school with a guy named stephen came from a wealth family was in a wheelchair from birth due to some complications at birth his spine was damage so he could do nothin from like his hips down. he was a cool guy and all. but he had his moments when he was a jerk. but he got alotta crap from idgits who could walk. i fought alot for him to get people to get off his ***. but he never asked for special treatment he is a very smart kid. always honorole. he had to carry a colostomy bag with em everywhere then would go empty it during period breaks. felt sorry for em. but he managed

 

Did someone say pick?