the fact of my sons graduation means infinitely more to me than anything going on on this thread....
i missed this post of yours, Neo, until it was just re-posted. I went through exactly the same experience with my older daughter. In the second grade, the principal called us in, and in a very condescending and supercilious fashion, he broke the news to us that our child was mildly retarded. He wanted to immediately reassign her to a special ed class in a school across town. We came home reeling at the prospect. But in our hearts we didn't believe it. We fought that diagnosis just as you, and had her extensively tested. The result of the tests was that she had a problem with comprehension, but definitely was not retarded in any way. She remained in her school, and went on through high school with above average grades. She made up for not being academically brilliant, with just plain hard work and plugging. She then went to a 2-year college, graduated, and completed her bachelor's degree at a university. After a break in time, she went on to earn a master's degree. At each of her graduation ceremonies, we always wished that her elementary school principal could have been there to see it.
The moral of the story is -- don't believe the professionals on face value alone, and don't trust labelling of any kind.
Or maybe just -- "Don't believe everything you are told."
Your son is fortunate to have such conscientious parents who trust their own instincts, have faith in him, and give him the support he needs. |
