A student with autism fails his school exams – A powerful letter from his teacher is sent home with him, and it quickly goes viral
You were undoubtedly shocked to discover if your child, or a child of a close friend or relative, had been diagnosed with autism.
It’s never easy to find out when someone you care about has a major medical or developmental problem. Your dread and bewilderment will be alleviated if you learn everything there is to know about the disease and where to seek help. It can also provide you the tools you need to find the help you and your autistic children require.
Ben Twist, now 11 years old, has autism, and his mother Gail was taken aback when her son gave her a letter after failing the SAT test.
When mom first saw the letter, she probably assumed it said Ben needed to study more in order to improve his grades, but it didn’t.
Despite the fact that he had failed all of his SAT tests, his teacher wrote him an amazing letter.
Mrs. Clarkson sent him home with a heartfelt letter describing his abilities and the value he brings to the table.
The letter reads as follows:
“Dear Ben,
I am writing you to congratulate you on your attitude and success in completing your end of key stage SATs.
Gil, Lynn, Angela, Steph and Anne have worked so well with you this year and you have made some fabulous progress.
I have written to you and your parents to tell you the results of the tests.
A very important piece of information I want you to understand is that these tests only measure a little bit of you and your abilities. They are important and you have done so well, but Ben Twist is made up of many other skills and talents that we at Lansbury Bridge see and measure in other ways.”
Gail, Ben’s mother, was moved to tears when she read the letter.
Mrs. Clarkson’s letter went on to describe the qualities Ben had that a standard school test could not assess.
“Other talents you have that these tests do not measure include: -Your artistic talents, your ability to work in a team, your growing independence, your kindness, your ability to express your opinion, your abilities in sports, your ability to make and keep friends, your ability to discuss and evaluate your own progress, your design and building talents, and your musical ability.
We are so pleased that all of these different talents and abilities make you the special person you are and these are all of the things we measure to reassure us that you are always making progress and continuing to develop as a lovely, bright young man.
Well done Ben, we are very proud of you.
Best Wishes,
Mrs. Clarkson”
More people like Mrs. Clarkson are desperately needed in the world! It would have been simpler to write a letter outlining how Ben should improve or change. Mrs. Clarkson, like many other intelligent and caring individuals, understands that assessing a fish’s ability to climb a tree is as useless as judging a monkey’s ability to swim in deep waters.
We hope Ben recalls his teacher’s remarks and never forgets that his worth should never be determined by the outcomes of a school test.
