Students at a recent Including Samuel screening share their questions and comments:
-“I don’t get what people’s problem is. Samuel’s in a wheelchair…that kid’s short. What’s the big deal?”-Alyssa White, 6th grade
-“If Samuel was put in another class with kids with disabilities only, would he change?”- 6th grade boy
-“Has Samuel ever stuck up for Isaiah?”-7th grade girl
-"If there was a cure, would you take it?”-8th grade boy
-“If Samuel could have surgery, or could take a magic pill, would he do it?”-5th grade boy
-“You don’t see older people with disabilities too often. Do they grow out of it?”-5th grade girl
-“Just because they can’t do stuff, can’t walk and stuff, doesn’t mean they can’t do things with you, talk to you, play with you.”-7th grade girl
-“It’s nice to have children with disabilities in our classrooms. I think it’s better for them and us to interact with them. Plus, I can relate because I have a sister with a disability so I know it is hard sometimes to have someone like this in your life.”-6th grade student
-“I thought the movie was touching. It made me want to do something about it.”-6th grade student
-“We want to be treated just like everyone else in the school. It is hard for us to learn material, and our teachers go too quickly, but that does not mean that we are dumb or stupid. If we were Samuel, we would want people to be nice to us and treat us normal.” - 5th grade student
-“It’s not hard to make friends with people who are different from yourself. All you have to do is be nice. Everyone wants to have friends and not be treated differently.” -4th grade student
-“Good teachers are willing and passionate, they can reach all students. But not all teachers can.”-7th grade student
-“Families don’t exclude. Isn’t school a big family?”-7th grade student
-“If they pull him out constantly he can’t form friendships with other kids. Integrated schools help kids with disabilities have more friends and relationships. A disabled kid would feel he doesn’t belong if he’s constantly being pulled away from his friends.”-7th grade students
-“Some classes, like math, can’t be taught to all kids—but all kids can listen.”-7th grade student
-“I’d like to meet everyone in that film. They inspire me.”-7th grade student
-“I feel bad because I know that I personally have not always looked at kids with disabilities as equal or the same. Obviously, they are different, but they are still the same despite their physical appearances. I always felt bad for them because I saw them as people that had no friends and kids who I wanted to be nice to, but not friends with. Now that I have watched this movie it has changed my perspective on people with disabilities.”- 7th grade student
-“People should not be judged on what appears on the outside. It’s what’s inside that matters, even if your words or motions don’t come out the ‘right’ way.”-7th grade student
-“You almost made me cry.” Why? “Keith Jones. Because he wanted a girlfriend and stuff.”-George, 6
th grade student