Re: hiring nonEH majors

["B. Silk" <bsilk@titan.iwu.edu>]

Steve Newmann's response to your message backs with experience the kind of
encouragement I would like to offer you as well.  Either this student
inspires the desire to help or he has been very fortunate in his writing 
teachers.  Apparently even his previous teacher had caring intentions, 
even though she handled them in an unhelpful way.

I have no LD training--I must leave that expertise to others on this list. 
But I do have personal experience with a student who thought her learning
problems were the result of her own lack of self-discipline.  She had been
told she was lazy, that she was bright but she had no "will-power."  She
thought her learning problems were character failures as well as failures
of intelligence.  When she found out that the problems were consistent
with an identifiable pattern, she was relieved.  When she was told that
her successes (however insufficient they seemed to her or to the general
educational culture) represented an amazing ability to overcome obstacles
other people don't have to face, she was downright proud. 

I admire your determination and your wisdom in seeking help for this
student.  This is the kind of opportunity that makes our work fulfilling. 
I know you'll learn a lot from this, and I certainly hope your student
will as well (although he must be ready and willing).  Let us know how
this process develops. 

  --Bobbie
    bsilk@titan.iwu.edu

On Fri, 16 Feb 1996, Dana D. Escobio wrote:

> Thanks to all of you for your insights/opinions about hiring tutors from 
> departments other than English.
> 
> And also congratulations to Bobbie - we've never met, but I feel I know 
> you from WCenter.  I appreciate your enthusiasm very much.  Right now, 
> I'm working with a kid who has many learning disabilities.  The real 
> problem, though, is all the false hope he's been given from his last writing
> teacher.  She gave him a B because he worked so hard.  Lately, I've 
> been thinking about what a colleage said about just giving him a C so that I
> won't have to tangle with this boy's father, but I want more than that.  
> I just want him to learn, maybe a little at least, and I am in a good 
> position, I think to help him.  I should have mentioned that 
> he's taking a directed studies (basic writing) with me, so even though we 
> are working one-to-one, he earns a grade for the work I assign him.
> 
> Somehow, I just feel that you'd care to hear this - that's why even 
> nonlurkers like me think we know you, Bobbie.
> 
> Good luck.  And happy Mardi Gras from Mobile.
> 
> 
> Dana 
> Univ. of South Alabama Writing Center
> descobio@jaguar1.usouthal.edu
> 
> 
> 
>