Do You Know Me?
CEC Today, Vol. 5, No. 6, 1999
He was not a good student. He fidgeted, daydreamed and made himself a frequent guest in the principal’s office. However, despite his lackluster academic performance, he became a successful public servant, mayor, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and a U.S. Ambassador.
Because of his academic struggles, Andrew Young is now a self-identified individual with ADD. He has a unique insight into special education and respect for educators. In a recent address to the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), he said, “the future of education lies in the hands of special educators, because they are the only teachers who are free enough to be creative.”
“I have realized that every kid can learn,” Young said, “but we can’t teach most kids according to state approved curriculums.” He encourages special educators to help students with exceptionalities learn in their own way and recognize that their weaknesses may, in fact, be their greatest strengths. To do this takes a special individual, one who sees past weaknesses to the causes behind them, as well as the possibilities those weaknesses pose, he says.
Young identifies his own determination to push forward despite roadblocks, challenges or weaknesses that threaten to keep individuals and students from reaching their goals.
He served as mayor of Atlanta, a top aide to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a three-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives, a U.S. Ambassador and is currently chairman of the Southern Africa Enterprise Development Fund.
