If you had the opportunity to work with a child who's medical prognosis forsees pallative care over cure, meaning, keeping this child comfortable and free of as much pain as possible. This patient is 5.

Would you feel it is morally right to educate this child, if this child asks to learn? Educate meaning, reading and writing? If so, would anyone see this as opening up future hopes to a child who may die? Or, giving this child the gift of reading, knowing she may never have another chance to learn if time was limited? As a teacher, would you immediately feel it is the childs right to learn at anytime, if that is what they want more than anything else?

Now this child lays in critical care, not expected to come home. This patient insists that her folder, words and education material stay next to her at all times. Conscious or not, she knows it is there.

I just got this message from her family a few minutes ago, and it hurts my heart.

I need to go see her.

of course i would educate the child if the child were receptive to it, especially if the child wanted to learn. i think being able to write and draw and explore new concepts would make the child stronger, and i see absolutely no scenario in which it would be a wasted effort. do it if you can.

Anxiety said:

Agreed

Maybe I'm a bit gruff in saying but if you boil down the alternatives the choice is easier.

Do I provide a child with compassion, diversion, and hope?

Do I let the 5 year old rot and die in ignorance?

learning to read can be an empowering experience. think of the accomplishment when you start to put the words together in your mind! there is not much she has control over but this is one thing that can take her away from her reality if only for a while.

if the child wants to and the parents want to... where is the problem?

History is full of the stories of people who accomplished many, many things and made numerous contributions to society -- against the odds.

Her prognosis is not a certainty. And, no one knows how significant her understanding of the information presented to her -- coupled with the understanding that someone believes in her -- could have on her.

I say go beyond her requests for information. Feed not just her curiosity, but her hope, too.

Of course, without a doubt, education is a basic human right. Denying her this is morally wrong.

The question in my mind is why the hell not?

There is no reason....betterment of oneself is a basic human need and desire
[Edited 7/14/07 13:43pm]

kids love to learn, don't deny them something they love

Everybody has the right to an education , no matter what the circumstances

Pochacco said:

i was about 2 type the same thing



its so hard watching a loved one suffer, when u no there isnt going 2 b a happy outcome- it must be even harder when its a child



for all involved

I strongly believed and believe it was the right thing to do and I did. Before this child went for transplant, I did teach her the first fundamentals to begin reading. She was able to read her first series of phonic books. Then she had to leave for transplant, but has not given up her hope to learn more.

I went to see her yesterday. I had other obligations as well, but traveled the 6 hour round trip to see her.

4 painful but beautiful hours, I was able to read her favorite book to her "The Giving Tree". She is in so much pain and the departure in all ways is so unfair.

No matter how much I see, I can barely ever see it as "God's Will".

Education is the right to all people and I will never question it or myself again, concerning educating a child under any circumstance.



Thank you for your shared thoughts and beliefs.

Creativity said:

You did a good thing

And for the small person

Creativity said:

u've done a good thing (cant see the screen 4 tears)
4 u and the child and her family