Winning by failing

Quinn's tests for public special-ed preschool were a classic example of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

The way these tests work, if a child fails three consecutive challenges in a given area, that test is over. Quinn typically hit that threshold very early, indicating very serious delays. He is missing many of the basic, basic building blocks - not surprising for a child who spent his first 16 months in an orphanage with little stimulation. BUT, if you skip over the baby stuff, Quinn has many skills of a child his age or older. He knows his letters and numbers, can figure out how most anything works, knows which key goes into which lock and has memorized countless books and songs.

So how to score him? If the test results take into account his more advanced skills, he would not qualify. If they focus on his lack of basic skills, he would certainly qualify.

His therapists all agree that he will benefit from this program, and want him in it. So after much discussion we decided to follow the rules to the letter: When he failed three consecutive challenges, test over. They all agree this is fully ethical, and best for Quinn.

So that's what we did. And he qualified. He will attend preschool for two hours four days a week, and will get 30 minutes of speech therapy every week and 30 minutes of occupational therapy every other week.

We visited his assigned school yesterday, still unsure if this is the route we wanted to go. We were convinced in about two seconds. The atmosphere was fabulous. We arrived during "free choice" time. A little girl in a smock was painting a picture. An occupational therapist was playing a game with a few kids. The teacher was filling the kids' backpacks with goodies while chatting with each one. One aide was helping kids build a tower while another aide played "snack time," helping kids cut and serve a plastic pizza cooked in a toy microwave. Quinn headed straight for the train table and stayed there - sometimes playing on his own, sometimes with other kids - until it was time for clean up and circle time. He knew just what to do when the Barney "clean up" song came on - and when it was over he headed over the CD player and started it up again (Mrs. Schreiber is going to have to move that CD player!). Much to our amazement, he plopped down in a chair for circle time and participated in the song and hand movements.

We are SO excited about this school and the opportunities it holds for Quinn. Aug. 23 can't come soon enough!

Touring Beijing

Today we toured old Beijing with a private guide named Mark who doesn't like crowds and knows all kinds of secret ways to avoid them. He also served as our personal photographer, which was awesome.

We started at Tiannamen Square, which is huge and imposing and jammed packed with people. Tour groups wear matching hats so members can find each other.


Next we went to the adjacent Forbidden City, which is where 24 the emperors lived. The architecture is spectacular and this is a great time to see it because everything has been all gussied up recently for the Olympics. Mark took us to lots of quiet little alley ways and museums - little museums that showed the pottery of China, the lives of concubines, the dishes used at imperial banquets.


Last stop was the Summer Palace, where the Empress Dowager - the emperor's mother, who basically ruled China for years - went to get away from the heat. It's still in Beijing, but on a huge, beautiful lake. It's just as spectacular as the Forbidden City - more so in many ways - but is not being kept up. A lot of the paint is peeling or chipped off and everything feels in need of renovation. Only two main gates were repainted and renovated for the Olympics.

It was a great tour and an active day. LOTS of walking. We're both tired, but looking forward to dinner at a restaurant nearby with another Holt family.

Tomorrow's the big day!!