Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Ivy Green


Yesterday was a day full of adventure. My parents are up from Florida visiting with us for Memorial Day Weekend and for our son's 6th grade promotion. We had a picnic in a field, drove through Wm. Bankhead National Forest, but the height of yesterday's long drive was a trip to Tuscumbia to visit the birthplace of Helen Keller. There is something inspiring about her story as well as that of her teacher Anne Sullivan. The grit and determination that these two had makes for a dramatic encounter and an "eye opening" adventure for both of them.

The fever that left Helen Keller deaf and blind as a toddler combined with her intellect created a desire for her to learn all that she could (once Ms. Sullivan and Miss Keller had a famous "break-through" at a water pump). Miss Keller graduated from college in a day when few women had degrees and when fewer blind or deaf people graduated much less one who was both deaf and blind.

Gone are all my excuses. No longer can you and I who have less disadvantages say, "I can't." We can and we will. Especially, when we are working for God.

Scott

2 comments:

Tim Archer said...

I wonder if the current generation is taught the Helen Keller story in school. It was common when I was in school. I hope we don't lose that legacy.

Thanks for sharing!

Scott said...

Tim,

In this part of Alabama our students learn about Helen Keller. I quized my 6th grader on the way there. He knew the basic story. My wife teaches 1st grade and they recently studied Helen Keller and Alexander Graham Bell and the material they studied made the connection between to two.

Scott

Any one else know if other sections of the nation study Helen Keller?