90-10.

It is a day like today that I am reminded that the law of 90-10 really does exist. Ninty percent of the people in the world are wonderful human beings. Ten percent are pukey. We need to focus on the 90.

The AA Orchestra Festival is here at CMR and students from GFHS and the Kalispell schools were in our cafeteria eating during their lunch break. They were there at a strange time, lingering after our students returned to class.

On a normal day, our students with profound special needs do their "work" time by doing small tasks in the cafeteria - helping the women who work in the cafeteria tear down the condiment bar or helping the custodian wipe tables. Poor Katie was practically paralyzed, engaged in "self-stim," rocking back and forth like crazy because her world was not right. There were students at the table she usually starts with - students who, for the most part were just eating, laughing, socializing, and ignoring her.

Finally, she went up to one young man, standing way too close, saying, "hi.... hi.... hi...Katie...Katie..." and reaching to take his hand - just as she is taught to do - "Shake hands and introduce yourself, Katie!" Instead of the reaction you might expect from a long-haired teenage boy, surrounded by his friends, he held her hand and said, "Hi, Katie, I'm Peter. How are you?" This made her start giggling... "good...good...good... Katie... Katie..." By this time, her teacher noticed what was happening and went over to her and said, "Okay, Katie, you can start over here."

There are so many good eggs out there! I had to pat him on the back on my way out and say, "Thank you for being good to our kids!" His response as he chugged the rest of his milk was, "No problem!" Peter's one of the 90.

90-10 continues tomorrow...