Protecting The Rights Of Others

     Some people aren’t as able to share their concerns.  They may not be very powerful.  They may not be able to walk, talk, or write.  This would get in their way to assemble and petition.  Then others need to protect their rights.

     Our 4^th grade formed friendship buddies with students at a school for students with severe disabilities.  They have learned about protecting the rights of others.  Four of the students in the class presented what they learned at a citizenship assembly.

     Student 1:  My person was in a wheelchair.  I pushed her around.  I had to protect her by holding onto the handle with two hands and steering really slowly. She doesn’t talk.  She would point where she wanted to go.  Even though she doesn’t make eye contact with you, I knew she could still hear and understand me because she waved to two girls in my class when I asked her to. I learned that you have to be careful and that she is just like any other four year old.  She has rights just like anybody else.

     Student 2:  My boy would run away, so I had to keep him in the area.  I had to have a lot of stuff for him to play with.  As a leader, I had to protect my friend when he was on the balance beam.  I had to help him go down the slide and the stairs.  I had to protect him from other people’s language and looks.  It is hard to take care of a person with a severe disability, but I learned to be patient and kind.  

     Student 3:  You shouldn’t make fun of someone because they have a disability or different qualities.  You had to help them, hold their hand so they wouldn’t run off, take their coats off and get them back on the bus.  This experience helped me learn about disabilities.  As a leader, I had to make sure that no one made fun of them, called them names, or made them sad.

      Student 4:  Some of the friends from River Hills couldn’t talk very well.  They understood what I was saying.  If someone was bullying on them, I would have to protect them so they wouldn’t be hurt.  Since they didn’t understand our school very well, we had to show them around.  I learned that everybody is different.  They have their own special way.  They have disabilities that people can help them with.  You can turn it into abilities.