For the last three years a school for special needs from Cheshire has entered our Eisteddfod......they are the most fantastic children because the music teacher and staff are beyond wonderful.
Today they told me they are not entering any more festivals with a category for "special needs".
They are fed up being patronised and all groups being given equal points because...."Ahhh they have special needs....we can't upset them".
They entered our festival as equals...up against all our other schools..... nothing was said...we just used the name of the school without "special"........and they did really well....
I was tasked with driving the adjudicators to their accommodation and we were chatting about the various performances and the special school was mentioned.....
"Special school?"...queried one adjudicator......."So which children were they?"
I told her.......she had been their adjudicator and she didn't know......she had judged them on their performance! She had just judged them as they wanted.....the same as every other school......Success!!!!
Isn't that wonderful? I will let their teachers know this......and I hope they can enter some more festivals in this spirit......it's just how it should be!.....Bliss.......♥
No No....Tony...they don't want to be considered special....they just want to be judged with all the other schools on an equal footing....and that's what they got today.....they were really happy.....
They will come to us each year because that's how we operate...and I hope more festivals follow.....x
Am I sure I'm in charge, Shoota?....You bet I am!.....☺
Oh I wish you could have been there, Marval.....I watched one young lad sing a solo in a class with six other competitors......I knew about him but nobody else did.....
He did brilliantly.....as I say...on an equal footing.....and when the lad who won the cup sat down this lad went over and shook his hand and said...Well done.....and there they were...chatting together and nobody was different...I like that!.....x
I know you are, Shoota...I would expect nothing else.......♥
Mmm.....must be because you've been getting early morning phone calls, Tony....honestly....I was pressing buttons like mad to stop the alarm and this voice was saying....Calling Tony....Calling Tony...... :-(
Do you know....I said when I got to the venue that I'd called you by accident....and with my luck you were on the late shift and really thrilled to be called by me at 5.30...... :-(
No, Shoota....I just thought of you yesterday......we had a class for the musical instrument of choice. A young girl played the trumpet and was just brilliant......really made me weepy she was so good and talented......x
I like the thought of you thinking of me.
It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.
And ashamed of the fact that I've pricked your bubble with the realisation that all the adjudicators were comatose...