Guest guest Posted May 6, 2010 Report Share Posted May 6, 2010  Wow, - has my admiration too!  Talking in front of a group is so hard (I still can't see myself doing it!), then having to defend her position - and , as you say, we can only imagine what circumstance made her teacher leave the room in tears - sounds like something there definitely hit a nerve.  Sounds like an A+ presentation.  Patty  From: Kerrigan <leslie-kerrigan@...> Subject: proud of my big girl " " < > Date: Thursday, May 6, 2010, 4:07 AM  Today had to give her Powerpoint presentation on her " controversial issue " paper that she's been working on for several months for Freshman English. The topic she choose was prenatal diagnosis. She argued against forcing people to be tested, doctors making value judgements, insurance companies forcing abortions, eugenics and talked about society's desire for perfect, designer babies, etc. She had lots of pictures of children with various disabilties, all showing them in a positive light, along with her charts and graphs and statistics. By the time she got to the end of her speech, the teacher had tears in her eyes (and we still don't know why, but I could certainly think of many reasons... I hope it was just a teacher's reaction to 's passion about her topic.) So finishes up, and opens it up to questions. Right away, a girl said " well, my aunt has Down Syndrome and she has a really hard life and I don't know how you can say that people with disabilities can have a good life. " At that point, teacher starts crying and leaves the room, leaving alone up front to deal with the other student. So, does not hesitate and says " well, my sister has Down Syndrome and she has a good life... she goes to the same schools we went to, she has friends, does stuff, and sure, she has to work harder at things but so what... she's a great kid. " Apparently the girl didn't give up and continued to argue with about why it was not a good thing, on and on, and apparently stood her ground, saying didn't we all have challenges in life, etc. The whole class was staring at this girl, said, with a look that said " shut up already. " Finally, she said " well, I don't really know my aunt, it's just what my mom says " and the conversation ended. This was NOT supposed to be a debate, just a presentation with time for questions, but I am so proud of for so freely standing up to this girl and being so openly proud of her little sister! I feel awful for her teacher, I hope 's presentation didn't bring up painful memories from her past. And my heart breaks for the aunt... I hope she does have a good life somewhere, and that her family is just missing it. , mom to (14), (12 DS) and Sammy (10) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 6, 2010 Report Share Posted May 6, 2010 Way to go ! It is the siblings of our children who are going to change attitudes concerning DS...I am convinced of it! Loree proud of my big girl  Today had to give her Powerpoint presentation on her " controversial issue " paper that she's been working on for several months for Freshman English. The topic she choose was prenatal diagnosis. She argued against forcing people to be tested, doctors making value judgements, insurance companies forcing abortions, eugenics and talked about society's desire for perfect, designer babies, etc. She had lots of pictures of children with various disabilties, all showing them in a positive light, along with her charts and graphs and statistics. By the time she got to the end of her speech, the teacher had tears in her eyes (and we still don't know why, but I could certainly think of many reasons... I hope it was just a teacher's reaction to 's passion about her topic.) So finishes up, and opens it up to questions. Right away, a girl said " well, my aunt has Down Syndrome and she has a really hard life and I don't know how you can say that people with disabilities can have a good life. " At that point, teacher starts crying and leaves the room, leaving alone up front to deal with the other student. So, does not hesitate and says " well, my sister has Down Syndrome and she has a good life... she goes to the same schools we went to, she has friends, does stuff, and sure, she has to work harder at things but so what... she's a great kid. " Apparently the girl didn't give up and continued to argue with about why it was not a good thing, on and on, and apparently stood her ground, saying didn't we all have challenges in life, etc. The whole class was staring at this girl, said, with a look that said " shut up already. " Finally, she said " well, I don't really know my aunt, it's just what my mom says " and the conversation ended. This was NOT supposed to be a debate, just a presentation with time for questions, but I am so proud of for so freely standing up to this girl and being so openly proud of her little sister! I feel awful for her teacher, I hope 's presentation didn't bring up painful memories from her past. And my heart breaks for the aunt... I hope she does have a good life somewhere, and that her family is just missing it. , mom to (14), (12 DS) and Sammy (10) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 6, 2010 Report Share Posted May 6, 2010 Such great news. You should be so proud of . Judging from the 'girls' last comment, I imagine she will have some questions for her mother...and maybe want some contact with her aunt. did a great job 'educating' with her presentation, which I think is key. Thank you, ! Shirley mom to Josiah, now 21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 6, 2010 Report Share Posted May 6, 2010 Yes, she got 100% :-) Must have gotten extra credit for starting a debate and causing tears. > Sounds like an A+ presentation. > Patty > > > > > From: Kerrigan <leslie-kerrigan@...> > Subject: proud of my big girl > " " < > > Date: Thursday, May 6, 2010, 4:07 AM > > Today had to give her Powerpoint presentation on her > " controversial issue " paper that she's been working on for several > months for Freshman English. The topic she choose was prenatal > diagnosis. She argued against forcing people to be tested, doctors > making value judgements, insurance companies forcing abortions, > eugenics > and talked about society's desire for perfect, designer babies, etc. > She had lots of pictures of children with various disabilties, all > showing them in a positive light, along with her charts and graphs > and > statistics. By the time she got to the end of her speech, the teacher > had tears in her eyes (and we still don't know why, but I could > certainly think of many reasons... I hope it was just a teacher's > reaction to 's passion about her topic.) So finishes > up, and > opens it up to questions. > > Right away, a girl said " well, my aunt has Down Syndrome and she > has a > really hard life and I don't know how you can say that people with > disabilities can have a good life. " At that point, teacher starts > crying and leaves the room, leaving alone up front to deal with > the other student. So, does not hesitate and says " well, my > sister has Down Syndrome and she has a good life... she goes to > the same > schools we went to, she has friends, does stuff, and sure, she has to > work harder at things but so what... she's a great kid. " > Apparently the > girl didn't give up and continued to argue with about why it > was > not a good thing, on and on, and apparently stood her ground, > saying didn't we all have challenges in life, etc. The whole class > was > staring at this girl, said, with a look that said " shut up > already. " Finally, she said " well, I don't really know my aunt, it's > just what my mom says " and the conversation ended. > > This was NOT supposed to be a debate, just a presentation with > time for > questions, but I am so proud of for so freely standing up to > this > girl and being so openly proud of her little sister! I feel awful for > her teacher, I hope 's presentation didn't bring up painful > memories from her past. And my heart breaks for the aunt... I hope > she > does have a good life somewhere, and that her family is just > missing it. > > , mom to (14), (12 DS) and Sammy (10) > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 6, 2010 Report Share Posted May 6, 2010 Wow! Great job ! Sounds to me like you have a future captain of the debate team. You have every right to be proud. Barb R. Sent from my iPhone Barb Rizk On May 6, 2010, at 1:07 AM, Kerrigan <leslie-kerrigan@...> wrote: > Today had to give her Powerpoint presentation on her > " controversial issue " paper that she's been working on for several > months for Freshman English. The topic she choose was prenatal > diagnosis. She argued against forcing people to be tested, doctors > making value judgements, insurance companies forcing abortions, > eugenics > and talked about society's desire for perfect, designer babies, etc. > She had lots of pictures of children with various disabilties, all > showing them in a positive light, along with her charts and graphs and > statistics. By the time she got to the end of her speech, the teacher > had tears in her eyes (and we still don't know why, but I could > certainly think of many reasons... I hope it was just a teacher's > reaction to 's passion about her topic.) So finishes up, > and > opens it up to questions. > > Right away, a girl said " well, my aunt has Down Syndrome and she has a > really hard life and I don't know how you can say that people with > disabilities can have a good life. " At that point, teacher starts > crying and leaves the room, leaving alone up front to deal with > the other student. So, does not hesitate and says " well, my > sister has Down Syndrome and she has a good life... she goes to the > same > schools we went to, she has friends, does stuff, and sure, she has to > work harder at things but so what... she's a great kid. " Apparently > the > girl didn't give up and continued to argue with about why it was > not a good thing, on and on, and apparently stood her ground, > saying didn't we all have challenges in life, etc. The whole class was > staring at this girl, said, with a look that said " shut up > already. " Finally, she said " well, I don't really know my aunt, it's > just what my mom says " and the conversation ended. > > This was NOT supposed to be a debate, just a presentation with time > for > questions, but I am so proud of for so freely standing up to > this > girl and being so openly proud of her little sister! I feel awful for > her teacher, I hope 's presentation didn't bring up painful > memories from her past. And my heart breaks for the aunt... I hope she > does have a good life somewhere, and that her family is just missing > it. > > , mom to (14), (12 DS) and Sammy (10) > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 6, 2010 Report Share Posted May 6, 2010 That's so funny because when started high school, that's what I told her... you know " oh, why don't you go check that out, you'd be good at it. " Her response was " well, THEY make you debate about all different things and you don't get to choose.... I only like to do this about things I care about. " Fair enough.... finally she found a topic she cared about! On 5/6/2010 7:25 AM, Barb Rizk wrote: > Wow! Great job ! Sounds to me like you have a future captain of > the debate team. You have every right to be proud. > > Barb R. > > Sent from my iPhone > Barb Rizk > > On May 6, 2010, at 1:07 AM, Kerrigan <leslie-kerrigan@... > <mailto:leslie-kerrigan@...>> wrote: > >> Today had to give her Powerpoint presentation on her >> " controversial issue " paper that she's been working on for several >> months for Freshman English. The topic she choose was prenatal >> diagnosis. She argued against forcing people to be tested, doctors >> making value judgements, insurance companies forcing abortions, eugenics >> and talked about society's desire for perfect, designer babies, etc. >> She had lots of pictures of children with various disabilties, all >> showing them in a positive light, along with her charts and graphs and >> statistics. By the time she got to the end of her speech, the teacher >> had tears in her eyes (and we still don't know why, but I could >> certainly think of many reasons... I hope it was just a teacher's >> reaction to 's passion about her topic.) So finishes up, and >> opens it up to questions. >> >> Right away, a girl said " well, my aunt has Down Syndrome and she has a >> really hard life and I don't know how you can say that people with >> disabilities can have a good life. " At that point, teacher starts >> crying and leaves the room, leaving alone up front to deal with >> the other student. So, does not hesitate and says " well, my >> sister has Down Syndrome and she has a good life... she goes to the same >> schools we went to, she has friends, does stuff, and sure, she has to >> work harder at things but so what... she's a great kid. " Apparently the >> girl didn't give up and continued to argue with about why it was >> not a good thing, on and on, and apparently stood her ground, >> saying didn't we all have challenges in life, etc. The whole class was >> staring at this girl, said, with a look that said " shut up >> already. " Finally, she said " well, I don't really know my aunt, it's >> just what my mom says " and the conversation ended. >> >> This was NOT supposed to be a debate, just a presentation with time for >> questions, but I am so proud of for so freely standing up to this >> girl and being so openly proud of her little sister! I feel awful for >> her teacher, I hope 's presentation didn't bring up painful >> memories from her past. And my heart breaks for the aunt... I hope she >> does have a good life somewhere, and that her family is just missing it. >> >> , mom to (14), (12 DS) and Sammy (10) >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 6, 2010 Report Share Posted May 6, 2010 WOW I'm proud of your big girl too!! Well done. Di From: Kerrigan <leslie-kerrigan@...> Subject: proud of my big girl " " < > Date: Thursday, May 6, 2010, 4:07 AM Today had to give her Powerpoint presentation on her " controversial issue " paper that she's been working on for several months for Freshman English. The topic she choose was prenatal diagnosis. She argued against forcing people to be tested, doctors making value judgements, insurance companies forcing abortions, eugenics and talked about society's desire for perfect, designer babies, etc. She had lots of pictures of children with various disabilties, all showing them in a positive light, along with her charts and graphs and statistics. By the time she got to the end of her speech, the teacher had tears in her eyes (and we still don't know why, but I could certainly think of many reasons... I hope it was just a teacher's reaction to 's passion about her topic.) So finishes up, and opens it up to questions. Right away, a girl said " well, my aunt has Down Syndrome and she has a really hard life and I don't know how you can say that people with disabilities can have a good life. " At that point, teacher starts crying and leaves the room, leaving alone up front to deal with the other student. So, does not hesitate and says " well, my sister has Down Syndrome and she has a good life... she goes to the same schools we went to, she has friends, does stuff, and sure, she has to work harder at things but so what... she's a great kid. " Apparently the girl didn't give up and continued to argue with about why it was not a good thing, on and on, and apparently stood her ground, saying didn't we all have challenges in life, etc. The whole class was staring at this girl, said, with a look that said " shut up already. " Finally, she said " well, I don't really know my aunt, it's just what my mom says " and the conversation ended. This was NOT supposed to be a debate, just a presentation with time for questions, but I am so proud of for so freely standing up to this girl and being so openly proud of her little sister! I feel awful for her teacher, I hope 's presentation didn't bring up painful memories from her past. And my heart breaks for the aunt... I hope she does have a good life somewhere, and that her family is just missing it. , mom to (14), (12 DS) and Sammy (10) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 6, 2010 Report Share Posted May 6, 2010 Good for you daughter, I have a feeling my daughter would have done the exact same thing, Like her mother, once she get's going on something she believes in, she does the research and heaven forbid someone try to contradict us! lol We both tend to speak our minds, and won't let no one change our minds if we feel we are right, just as your daughter stood her ground. (daughter and I) were shopping for her some pants and dress at Kohls as I was waiting for her to come out of the dressing room , there was a lady there shopping with her caregiver/parent you could tell she had down syndrome and there had to be a secondary(hard to explain I think you had to be there) any how my daughter saw her too, and asked the exact same thing! lol She was like I know she has down syndrome mom but there is something else right? I guess I know now my daughter has been doing some research in her room when here I thought all her time was spent on looking up concerts for Adam Lambert! lol From: Kerrigan <leslie-kerrigan@...> Subject: proud of my big girl " " < > Date: Thursday, May 6, 2010, 1:07 AM Today had to give her Powerpoint presentation on her " controversial issue " paper that she's been working on for several months for Freshman English. The topic she choose was prenatal diagnosis. She argued against forcing people to be tested, doctors making value judgements, insurance companies forcing abortions, eugenics and talked about society's desire for perfect, designer babies, etc. She had lots of pictures of children with various disabilties, all showing them in a positive light, along with her charts and graphs and statistics. By the time she got to the end of her speech, the teacher had tears in her eyes (and we still don't know why, but I could certainly think of many reasons... I hope it was just a teacher's reaction to 's passion about her topic.) So finishes up, and opens it up to questions. Right away, a girl said " well, my aunt has Down Syndrome and she has a really hard life and I don't know how you can say that people with disabilities can have a good life. " At that point, teacher starts crying and leaves the room, leaving alone up front to deal with the other student. So, does not hesitate and says " well, my sister has Down Syndrome and she has a good life... she goes to the same schools we went to, she has friends, does stuff, and sure, she has to work harder at things but so what... she's a great kid. " Apparently the girl didn't give up and continued to argue with about why it was not a good thing, on and on, and apparently stood her ground, saying didn't we all have challenges in life, etc. The whole class was staring at this girl, said, with a look that said " shut up already. " Finally, she said " well, I don't really know my aunt, it's just what my mom says " and the conversation ended. This was NOT supposed to be a debate, just a presentation with time for questions, but I am so proud of for so freely standing up to this girl and being so openly proud of her little sister! I feel awful for her teacher, I hope 's presentation didn't bring up painful memories from her past. And my heart breaks for the aunt... I hope she does have a good life somewhere, and that her family is just missing it. , mom to (14), (12 DS) and Sammy (10) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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