"For every nine people who denounce innovation, only one will encourage it… For every nine people who do things the way they have always been done, only one will ever wonder if there is a better way. For every nine people who stand in line in front of a locked building, only one will ever come around and check the back door. Our progress as a species rests squarely on the shoulders of that tenth person. The nine are satisfied with things they are told are valuable. Person 10 determines for himself what has value.” — Za Rinpoche and Ashley Nebelsieck, in The Backdoor to Enlightenment
Yesterday, we had a great, dynamic, inspiring guest speaker in my class, and she used the quote above to start her discussion about why we need great people to go into the field of education...and make change.
She gave a really practical, honest presentation about the field of special needs students, and one of the things she talked about was the growing prevalence of autism. It's a scary thing: 1 in 90 boys, and 1 in 150 girls, born today will be diagnosed somewhere along the autistic spectrum.
Here's the thing that startled me the most, though: she mentioned the movie "Rainmain" when she was talking about the brains of autistic children (and that's fodder for a whole different, fascinating look at how the brain is wired)...and not one of my students had seen the movie. Most hadn't even heard of it! Wow...
So guess what we're watching later this week?
Yesterday, we had a great, dynamic, inspiring guest speaker in my class, and she used the quote above to start her discussion about why we need great people to go into the field of education...and make change.
She gave a really practical, honest presentation about the field of special needs students, and one of the things she talked about was the growing prevalence of autism. It's a scary thing: 1 in 90 boys, and 1 in 150 girls, born today will be diagnosed somewhere along the autistic spectrum.
Here's the thing that startled me the most, though: she mentioned the movie "Rainmain" when she was talking about the brains of autistic children (and that's fodder for a whole different, fascinating look at how the brain is wired)...and not one of my students had seen the movie. Most hadn't even heard of it! Wow...
So guess what we're watching later this week?
5 comments:
Rainman was a fantastic movie... good for you for showing it. I wonder how many hits you're going to get for your title? LOL...
Wow, they've never seen this movie. Good for you for showing it to your class.
I love that quote - and oh so true!!!
It is amazing how one's frame a reference is so dependent upon one's age. I am glad you are showing Rainman to your class - it is definitely a movie they should see.
Love the quote and I am one of those people who haven't seen Rainman. I saw parts of it, just never from beginning to end. Hopefully your class can gain something from watching it.
Hello, I love insightful thought and sayings! Maybe, it is because philosophy entertains me. The Rainman is a fabulous movie! Sometimes, I think certain diagnosis can be a
"catch-all!" I used to be an aide in LD/BD classrooms. I had a student with Down's Syndrome and he could read better than anyone in my class. Nick from the EMH class for reading. Thanks,Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
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