Student's Poem Moves School

A Moultrie Middle School student is moving fellow classmates and faculty with a heartfelt plea for inclusion for students with special needs.

Seventh grader Natalie Howe delivered the plea — in the form of a poem — while speaking before the student body at a recent Awards Day ceremony.

She asks for students to look at the heart of their fellow classmate, Journey Kerley, rather than just seeing the young man's disability.

"These children are happy. They have love, and they have family. But not all people see that, they see a special-needs child," Natalie said. "Most people shun them. And they treat them like they can’t be like us, but they can."

Natalie bonded with Journey while volunteering in the school's special education program. During her time in the class, Natalie provided companionship as a part of her exploratory classwork.

The volunteer opportunity is part of the school's "reverse mainstreaming" program that places regular-ed students in classes with students who have special needs.

"The social and emotional growth for both groups of students is incredible to watch as they interact and learn how much they have in common," said Dana Bowen, Journey's teacher. "It’s like a light bulb goes off in these (students) minds; they realize how inspirational my students are and what great joy they bring to our lives."

Natalie read the poem during the school's awards ceremony on May 31.

A Tough Journey
by Natalie Howe

There is a child I know so well,
He cannot write, he cannot spell,
But out of all the things he can go,
By far the best is the love he gives to you.
You wonder why he is so mad.
He wants to be normal oh so bad.
He has so much happiness,
Yet he cannot express.
He can see all you do,
His mind is a mess,
He sees you laugh, he sees you cry
He understands, truth from a lie,
He enjoys the little things,
Like listening to the birdies sing.
He may not be as stable as you,
But he has a heart, and so do you.
So next time you stare, and look at this child with
despair
Think about his heart that’s sure there,
For he can understand your thinking,
Even though your heart is sinking,
Look at this child with sympathy,
Because, he has love and happiness,
You cannot see.

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