I was sitting in the doctors surgery this afternoon waiting for my appointment and sitting next to me were two middle aged ladies who were teachers.
"Great!" I thought, "some like minded people who will share similar values and views as me!"
(Perhaps this sounds a little crazy, but I feel some general camaraderie between my colleagues).
But as I listened to their conversation I became quickly frustrated and extremely disgusted. They began to discuss some children at their school and it quickly became apparent that they had certain feelings about children with special needs that I was really shocked by.
Let me say a little more about what I believe first, I believe that all children, regardless of age, gender, background or ability are valuable and a deliberate creation of God. I believe they should be valued, loved, cared for and nurtured. It shocks me to believe that there are people who don't share these thoughts.
As I listened to the conversation of the two ladies they began to discuss certain children in their classes, I believe they referred to them as "problems" and various other less tasteful names.
One particular boy the teacher described had significant special needs. They proceeded in front of a full waiting room to describe the child's behaviour quickly followed by the statement, "The child is a disgrace. He has a serious problem and should never have been allowed to come to our school. It is disgusting. He is such a disgrace to us, the staff and our children."
The fellow teacher agreed and replied "They are such a waste of tax payers money" (referring to the child and children generally with special needs).
I was so angry! How could anyone believe that? I think what shocked me even more is that someone would speak so publicly in a place full of unknown people. I cannot understand that people are so lacking in compassion and love, especially people whose job it is to care for and teach children!
All children are precious and a deliberate creation. It says in the bible "You created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb" (Psalm 139). God created us individually, worked us to be who we are. God does not make mistakes. These children are not a mistake.
I am appalled at how our society treats people with a disability.
I wish I had said something to those women. I am a chicken and sat there seething instead of challenging them to think about their actions. I secretly wonder what the others in the waiting room thought, were they as shocked as me? Or is this general view among our country?
