Talking Right About Children
Seneca Rogers wants to remind us that kids aren’t politics, they are kids.
He was told he couldn’t learn.
There wasn’t a lot of reason given to Seneca Rogers’ parents about why his teachers thought he wouldn’t be able to learn; it’s just what they were told. “I guess they based it off that I was a talkative kid– and I did talk. A lot!” But that didn’t mean he couldn’t learn. Most of us know that a talkative kid is often curious and eager to engage with the world.
Seneca’s parents were upset. They felt it wasn’t true that he wouldn’t be able to learn and they were concerned that no one had done any testing to find out what was going on. But with no one providing answers or even an explanation, his parents decided to move across town to change districts. Once they did that, Seneca became an honor roll student almost immediately.
He could learn. He did learn.
“Like most kids can,” he says. Then, quietly and thoughtfully, he adds: “Like all kids can.”
It’s early May and Seneca is sitting across from me at a coffee shop in downtown Burlington, North Carolina. He is slowly sipping his drink, an A&T University (Aggie Pride!) ball cap on his head- his alma mater. The coffeeshops doors are open, letting the cool spring morning…
