{"id":3402,"date":"2013-01-31T05:29:13","date_gmt":"2013-01-31T10:29:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/?p=3402"},"modified":"2013-02-05T19:34:11","modified_gmt":"2013-02-06T00:34:11","slug":"meeting-a-friend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2013\/01\/meeting-a-friend.html","title":{"rendered":"Meeting a friend"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Tonight I had a pleasant surprise when I met a friend who is also a member of Special Gathering during my late afternoon walk. \u00a0My friend, M.J. was meeting with her reading tutor in the park. Her tutor explained that they often take a walk in the park to help \u00a0M.J. loosen up and prepare her for her next reading assignment.<\/p>\n

At the time\u00a0I saw them, they weren\u2019t walking but M.J. was reading out loud. \u00a0I came on them at the end of her lesson; and by the time I reached them, they were preparing to leave.<\/p>\n

It seemed interesting to me that M.J.\u2019s teacher wanted to explain to me why they had her lessons in the park. \u00a0It is a very public place. \u00a0In fact, it was such a busy spot that I wondered if M.J. would be comfortable reading out loud with all the people who stroll through the area.<\/p>\n

\"reading\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Understand, I\u2019m\u00a0not questioning this tutor\u2019s methods or abilities. \u00a0What I did question was the propriety of having an adult woman learning to read in this public park at a time when people are routinely walking their dogs, exercising and meandering through the area. \u00a0In conducting a reading lesson, it is logical that the student must read out loud. \u00a0Thereby, the teacher can access the effectiveness of her instruction.<\/p>\n

\"child<\/a>I\u2019ve heard my friend read. \u00a0Her ability is at a kindergarten to first grade level. \u00a0I have my Master\u2019s degree and I would be self-conscious reading aloud in such a public venue. \u00a0M.J. is a sharp, stylish young woman in her early twenties. \u00a0If comfortable in her surroundings, she can be boisterous. \u00a0But her typical behavior is shy and withdrawn. \u00a0I cannot imagine that she is able to function at her best while reading in the park.<\/p>\n

Over the years, I seen men and women who are professionals use a lack of judgement regarding the feelings and emotional well-being of people who are intellectually disabled. \u00a0My concern is that this is another case of a well-meaning teacher finding an atmosphere which puts her student at a disadvantage.<\/p>\n

Am I overreaching and overreacting? \u00a0Or do you think another place would be more appropriate to hold a reading lesson?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tonight I had a pleasant surprise when I met a friend who is also a member of Special Gathering during my late afternoon walk. \u00a0My friend, M.J. was meeting with her reading tutor in the park. Her tutor explained that they often take a walk in the park to help \u00a0M.J. loosen up and prepare…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":387,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,20,3,40,186,49,16,8,4,41],"tags":[644,690,21,688,696,7,699,715,701,694,689,57,643,6,700],"class_list":["post-3402","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christianity","category-church","category-developmental-disabilities","category-faith","category-hope","category-inspiration","category-intellectual-disability","category-mentally-challenged-community","category-simple-truths","category-spirituality","tag-adult-education","tag-autism-spectrum","tag-christian","tag-christianity","tag-church","tag-developmental-disabilities-2","tag-faith","tag-hope","tag-inspiration","tag-intellectual-disability","tag-mentally-challenged-community","tag-prayer","tag-reading","tag-simple-scriptural-truths","tag-spirituality"],"yoast_head":"\nMeeting a friend - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, nofollow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Meeting a friend - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Tonight I had a pleasant surprise when I met a friend who is also a member of Special Gathering during my late afternoon walk. \u00a0My friend, M.J. was meeting with her reading tutor in the park. 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