December 23, 2008

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Simile

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was copywritten in 1949 and originally recorded by Gene Autry. I was 10 years old. By that age my family assumed that all of the cousins and brothers and sisters should be able to name Santa’s reindeer. We had timed races at Christmas gatherings to see who could rattle them off the fastest- Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen. So what do my wondering eyes should appear when it was my turn to name all of the reindeer in 1949- a red-nosed reindeer whose song was played everywhere? I added Rudolph to the original list. The aunts and uncles thought it was cute but not proper. Mom was secretly tickled. Dad grinned and shrugged his shoulders. There were only 8 reindeer everyone agreed. No new ones could be added. It went against tradition.

Rudolph may be the only popular song about the success of a “disabled” reindeer. He looked different. He had a deformed nose that glowed. Not only was it red, but it was big and round and ugly. Not like any other self-respecting reindeer nose. He was made fun of, shunned from the games by his playmates. We don’t know if his nose got in the way when he ate, snuffled in the snow, or interfered with kisses he gave his Mommy and Daddy.

On Christmas Eve it was time for Santa to get in his sled to deliver presents to children across the world. The weather was terrible, fog everywhere. You couldn’t see your hand in front of your face. The traditional reindeer team with the dull little black noses looked up and saw no moon to guide them. Suddenly, what had been a disability became a gift. The little reindeer with a flashlight in his nose led the other reindeer, pulling Santa into the night sky. He was accepted at last.

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose.
And it you ever saw it, you would even say it glows.
All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names,
They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games.

Then one foggy Christmas Eve, Santa came to say:
“Rudolph with your nose so bright,
Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?”
Then how the reindeer loved him as they shouted out with glee:
“Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, you’ll go down in history!”

The person in authority decided to use this cast-away deer not because he wanted to. But circumstances arose that left Santa no other choice. Fate stepped in. What if it hadn’t?

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose
And when people saw it they stood still and froze.
All of the other reindeer used to laugh out in the yard.
He was ashamed when they nicknamed him “Retard”.

Then one moonlit Christmas Eve, Santa came to say:
“Rudolph with your nose so bright
You can’t go with us tonight.”
Then how the reindeer shamed him, as they shouted out with glee:
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer you’ll go down as simile.

A simile compares two unlike things using like or as: Rudolph is like every child in special education. Santa is like the building principal or teacher, modeling who has value and who does not. The other reindeer were as mean as the kids at recess. Similes could also be: The other reindeer are like parents of less disabled kids who will not help or associate with severely impaired children and their parents. Santa is head of the special education parent group who does not connect with parents or children in lower socioeconomic groups, and follows the instructions of the special education director. Rudolph is the outsider in the class, waiting to be recognized for his ability and not his disability. He awaits Divine Intervention so that only he/she can provide what somebody else needs.

As we end 2008, we need to look at ourselves in special education as a movement, pulling towards heights yet unattained. We are still on the ground, the sleigh full of children and ready to take off. It has been waiting to ascend into the shimmering sky for 33 years. There is the traditional and well-intended team hired for the job of pulling the sleigh heavenward year in and year out. But nothing much has changed, except there are more children in the sleigh and Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixon, Comet, Cupid, Donder and Blitzen are eager to retire. The new baby reindeer being trained to pull the sleigh have never been told the original special education story. Ipods are in their ears. They don’t even hear the sleigh bells connecting them to the rest of the team. Training this new team means teaching them the history as well as the current method and policies of mounting the sky, galloping across the darkness, and delivering the goods to children on time. Each of us must take up the reins and climb on board if we are to finally get this sleigh moving. I do a YouTube video once a month to help this effort. Get on board. Giddee-up!