Ladon (A, B, C, G, X)
Ladon is the oldest of five children. He began the first grade this year, without ever attending preschool or kindergarten. During the first month of school, Ladon’s teacher discovered that he had never before held a crayon or pencil. He had never used scissors. He didn’t know his colors, numbers, or letters. He had never listened to a story. As the days have worn on, Ladon has been constantly in trouble at school. He doesn’t sit at his desk. He takes things from the other children. He hits. He refuses to follow directions. He sits under his desk for most of the day, chewing on his shirt. He cries. Ladon is dirty and hungry. He has no idea how to wash his face, comb his hair, or brush his teeth. He has never owned a toothbrush.
From day one, Ladon’s PASSWORD Mentor accepted him as he was, without a mountain of expectations. So what if Ladon couldn’t color or didn’t know his ABC’s. He was still a great kid, full of potential. He knew Ladon could learn. Ladon began to respond to his Mentor’s nurturing within 3 months. He started to pick up the foreign language of “school.” Sitting still, raising his hand, waiting his turn, and doing class work could all be learned with his Mentor’s support. And now he had someone to cheer him on! When he had a bad day he could work things through with his Mentor instead of retreating under his desk. The Mentor’s bulletin board is now covered with pictures and notes from a boy who couldn’t color or write. Belief, Ladon’s first password.
