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From: Ken St. Louis
Date: 10/20/02
Time: 10:26:39 AM
Remote Name: 157.182.12.205
Dear Jaime,
Are you sure that the teacher is not a latent ("closet") stutterer herself or does not come from a family where stuttering is considered a shameful thing? Talking about various family attitudes toward stuttering, neutral or negative, might be a good way to start the conversation with her.
You might have to do a little "covert" desensitization with her, maybe by stuttering a little yourself.
I would suggest getting some the wonderful materials that are available for free or nearly free from the National Stuttering Association and Stuttering Foundation of America to leave with the teacher. Remind her that people like Winston Churchill and Charles Darwin stuttered. If that does not work, look up my name on the West Virginia University website and ask her to give me call. I'll be happy to share with her *lots* of reasons why she might want to reconsider her position for the sake of the child.
Ken