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Monday, Jan. 14, 2013 | 2 a.m.
Another view?
View more of the Las Vegas Sun's opinion section:
• Editorials - the Sun's viewpoint.
• Columnists - local and syndicated writers.
• Letters to the editor - readers' views.
Have your own opinion? Write a letter to the editor.
My compliments to Paul Takahashi for an excellent article on the new Variety School. It reminded me that, as a school board member in the ’70s, I used to spend a lot of time at the Helen J. Stewart School for special needs students and gained enormous respect for special education teachers.
One event at that school remains unforgettable. I had asked Charles Vanda, the originator of the Charles Vanda Master Series at UNLV, if the Minneapolis Chamber Orchestra could rehearse at that school. He agreed and the next day the orchestra came. After the first few bars, one of the children came forward, stood behind the director, and began to imitate him with energetic arm movements. Soon another child joined him, then another, then another and before long the entire audience was directing the orchestra.
Interesting was the fact that a lot of children began to applaud each time before the coda as if they felt that the piece was about to end, indicating that they had a better sense of musical perception than we give those children credit for. Afterwards, Vanda and members of the orchestra told me that this was the best musical experience they ever had.
In reply to Herman van Betten; this letter to the editor is without doubt my favorite of all time here in the Las Vegas Sun opinion forum. Oh, you can bet you struck a chord with this commentator!
I've always been just an amateur singer. However, the experiences I've had in singing my music with people over many decades at times have just been immeasurable.
From the earliest of my teen years, I would at times walk along the Bay Shore with my autistic cousin and sing "A cappella" to her. Oh, you can bet she had deep emotions. I remember those moments as my best and truly most precious.
Decades later, singing at a retirement home here in Vegas, I was singing Frank Sinatra's 60's hit "That's Life" when I saw an elderly lady get up out of her wheelchair and try to start dancing. The medical attendants placed the lady back in her wheelchair. However, moments later, she was back up and out of her wheelchair. This time the attendants had to use the seat belt to keep her safe in the wheelchair.
Later in the show I was singing one of Sinatra's most heartfelt songs, "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning". In the middle of the song I stopped singing. I saw this elderly lady sitting in the first row sobbing. I walked over and asked if she was alright. This lady grabbed my hand, and told me, "All this music you are singing brings back the memories of my husband and I. He just passed away recently and we were married for 71 years. You just keep singing, son, until you can't sing anymore."
That's just what I did. I sang until I was hoarse. This is what music is about, isn't it?
This was an absolutely beautiful letter to the editor, Herman. Share more with us, would you please???
When the article about Variety School came out this week, I was so very proud of our school district, CCSD, that I took the article and displayed it in my school's staff lounge...absolutely uplifting news! This new, improved facility will better prepare students for having a positive transition into independent living. Few realize that we have such a large population of special needs students as Takahashi wrote about some 32,000 students, so the need is there.
Commenter Bradley Chapline's story truly touched my heart, stirring memories as well, how music is the universal language, just as is a smile.
Blessings and Peace,
Star
Let me play devil's advocate.....How much? How much did it cost to build, what is the cost of staffing, how much do these intensive services cost, what's the per cap cost of running this place?
CCSD, you can't adequately provide services to 300,000 or so kids in regular ed but you can have a Taj Mahal for these guys. According to various news reports referencing the proposed state budget, as many as a thousand autistic kids will be denied state services....that's just autism. Many thousands more will forgo immunizations, well-child, maternal health, intervention and other services.
When I see this kind of story it doesn't make me feel good. Oh, I think it's great for the folks fortunate enough to make the cut. But you have to understand that until every autistic kid gets this level of opportunity, the ones left behind have even less opportunity.
Mr. Herman van Betten; It is now clear to me that I assumed wrong that your letter to the editor was so pure and positive that it would be free from vile and revolting comments from even the "rats "of our community.
Herman, try to ignore the "vermin" of our society who attempt to destroy every worthy and or just cause by finding any type of imperfection and hammering on it. Those of us who are practical and reasonable know that your program is a "working progress "and are doing the best you can with what you have. Most of us, with brains and hearts like "Star", know you are doing extraordinary work.
Secondly, Herman, no "scoundrel" will be able to see that the CCSD's wondrous public service that identifies and treats special needs students has clear cut advantages on all sides.. In its early stages of detection, autism program and treatment plans will save the parents / taxpayers over four million dollars per child in lifetime medical and mental health expenses when early detection and treatment is provided. And, of most critical importance, these young lives can be brought to experience, one day, a more completely normal existence. If this is not a respected an admired public service, then I guess our morals as a society have all but disappeared.
Comment removed by moderator. Personal Attack