[Missouri-l] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #151- The Braille Princess

[Nancy Lynn]

New THOUGHT PROVOKER #151- The Braille PrincessI'm going to leave the 
original message information here as Mr. Newman would like to receive your 
responses. You can also subscribe directly to this thought provoker list 
directly. Personally, I think this is a cute little story that teaches kids 
about diversity and acceptance. Enjoy.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Robert Newman
To: Robert Newman
Sent: Sunday, November 15, 2009 9:29 AM
Subject: New THOUGHT PROVOKER #151- The Braille Princess


THOUGHT PROVOKER 151

The Braille Princess

November 15, 2009

Thought Is The First Step To Beyond

"This is our first day of kindergarten." The faces of the small children 
grouped around the teacher all looked up with energy filled expectation. "I 
want us to talk about one very, very important skill all teachers want their 
students to learn. It is reading. First, to make sure we understand new 
words --- what is a skill?" Teacher and students shared back and forth, 
clarifying several key words.

The teacher asked, "How many of you can read?" Nearly all hands shot up. "Oh 
my, what a smart class." Testing prior to the beginning of school had shown 
the teacher each student's skill level. Nearly all of them could read, most 
only a few words and a very few could actually read beginning children's 
books.

"Why do you think being able to read is important?" Many voices and hands 
answered her question.

Pointing to a small girl bouncing on her knees, hand pumping, the teacher 
chose, "Breanna."

 "To read to your mommy and daddy."

"Good answer. Reading to your parents is an excellent reason. Thank you."

After taking several more answers the teacher moved into the next phase of 
the day's plan. "It is also important for you children to learn from one 
another. Today, I have asked two students to bring one of their favorite 
books and read it to the class. And by the end of this school year, I expect 
that you all will have your turn." Indicating the kid-size chair at her 
side, "Michael, you are first."

Seated, the small boy nervously fingered his brightly colored book, holding 
its cover forward to show it to his audience. "My favorite book is 'Ruffles, 
The Big Red Dog." Positioning it on his lap, he began reading.

"Thank you Michael. And now, Kendra. Please come up to our reading chair." 
Tapping the chair, the teacher watched the small girl with her arching cane 
home in on the sound guide.

"Students, remember, earlier today, we learned about why Kendra uses a white 
cane when she moves around the school."

A young voice from the audience said, "She blind."

"Yes, she is blind." Carrying on, the teacher said, "And so now we are going 
to learn about Braille, which is how Kendra can read."

The small girl seated, cane at her feet, the teacher asked, "Kendra, first 
please show and tell us the name of your book. Then tell the class a little 
about Braille."

Composure intact, Kendra answered, "I learned to read when I was three. You 
read print because you can see it. I read Braille, because I am blind and 
blind people read Braille with their fingers. Braille is raised dots. I can 
read as good as anybody." She raised the book up for all to see its cover. 
"My favorite book is the 'Princess and the Pea.' My daddy calls me his 
Princess."

"Hey," exclaimed a student! "No picture! No letters!"

After the stories were read, the teacher again addressed her class. "Miss 
Young, my assistant has arranged the chairs in a circle. Each of you have 
your own chair, your name is on it. So to find your chair, you must read the 
name-tag." The classroom noise level fell, then swelled; expressions on 
faces ranged from blank wonderment, to knowing intelligence. "Reading is 
important. I know some of you cannot read yet. However, soon I expect that 
you will. So for help now, ask your neighbor or Miss Young or me to assist 
you." The noisy reading and sorting began.

"She's sitting in my chair!" The outcry of the small red-haired boy was all 
but lost in the overall noise level.

"Kendra --- Tommy, we need to check the label," intervened the frazzled 
Para. Lightly touching the petite blind girl sitting quietly on the chair in 
question, "Honey, did you feel for the Braille label on the back of the 
seat?" Leaning forward to look herself as she spoke.

 "A problem here?" The teacher walked up.

"Oh my," Miss Young looked at her boss, "the name-tag is missing."

"Tommy knocked it off and it fell on the seat," said the boy from the next 
chair over.

"Yes, I'm sitting on my name," said Kendra. "And Tommy, you need to learn to 
read Braille."

The eyes of the two adults met, both smiled, the teacher said, "Kendra, we 
are going to call you, our Braille Princess."



Greetings

Read through the above short story and send me your thoughts at: 
newmanrl at cox.net  Recall that I place all responses upon my web site as soon 
as I receive them for all the world to read and learn from and that web site 
url is http://www.thoughtprovoker.info

    What IT IS AND HOW IT WORKS: Thought Provoker is an independent e-mail 
discussion forum with the purpose to aid in the effort to change what it 
means to be blind. Participants, both readers and writers share their honest 
feelings and we learn from each other.  I Robert Leslie Newman am the author 
and moderator.  At this time a new PROVOKER runs for four weeks.  THOUGHT 
PROVOKER can be sent directly to anyone who contacts me with a request to 
join the THOUGHT PROVOKER mailing list.  Otherwise I post all new THOUGHT 
PROVOKERS upon my web site "ADJUSTMENT TO BLINDNESS  AND VISUAL IMPAIRMENT" 
for all in the WWW to read and learn from.  In Addition, all past PROVOKERS 
are posted there and can be responded to as well.  I do insert commentary 
after some responses.  But more importantly know that I do not edit anyone's 
response other than run them through a spell checker and that's not perfect. 
Responses can be written to the Provoker itself or to the responses of 
others.  Think about it, if you feel that any response is not complete or 
does not fully convey the right philosophy, write in and give your feelings, 
provoke thought.  There again, if you do choose to respond on the comments 
of another, take issue with the content and not the person.

     For now it is optional to have your name and any other personal 
information placed with your response.  You write what you want us to know. 
I do feel giving your occupational status and/or location is important (your 
city, state or region and country).

    In regard to a definition of blindness, I am taking the broad view that 
blindness is any level of vision loss which is affecting the individual 
functionally, emotionally, socially, economically, politically, etc.

     If you feel this forum would be of value to another, pass the address 
on.  Additionally, if you no longer wish to receive Provokers, advise me of 
that fact and I will honor it.

    Finally, I give my permission to use this material to educate others. 
Do give credit back to the forum and the respondent.  Thank you.





Robert Leslie Newman
Email- newmanrl at cox.net
THOUGHT PROVOKER Website-
Http://www.thoughtprovoker.info
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