Man, I need to try this. I run up against this stuff a lot in Sunday school teaching, unfortunately (and the irony makes me less than happy, considering the setting).

But thanks for the story, Greg. You're a good man.

To call the bitchy clique girls on their treatment of Desiree, to let them feel what it's like to be the target of criticism, was a wonderful thing to do. Thank you, Greg.

My wife teaches middle and high school students at the alternative school in our district. She has kids who are special ed as well, they kind of get dumped there by their home schools who don't want to deal with them even though that's not what the school is designed to handle.

I am always amazed by the love and patience that the teachers have for these kids. They are trying desperately to prevent kids with issues from slipping through the cracks of the system. I know this is going to sound corny as hell, but people who care about kids this much (like you, Greg) are the real super heroes. I couldn't do what you and my wife do and you have my deepest admiration, sir.

Derek

Our Desiree is named Nic, and despite being almost widely accepted and loved by the entire school, his hyperactivity and stubbornness get on the nerves of the other kids, and it's the best way to guarantee that you will be sitting out an activity or seeing the principal if you pick on him in front of me.

I think it's something about holidays. Christmas is always the worst with Nic, and I understand why, because as an orphan, Nic misses his parents most around Christmastime, and becomes nearly impossible for even me to deal with.

I think Nic would do well in a cartooning class, because he says the most imaginative things, to the point where he goes on about them for so long that the other kids get bored and tired of listening to him, but for me it's a blast, just wondering "Where is he going with this?"

Most nerdy kids grown up can see a little bit of themselves in the special ed kids, I think, and because we know what it's like to be picked on, we go that little extra mile to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else, especially the Nics and the Desirees who can't tell exactly what they've done to deserve it.