Many of the children I work with are seriously emotionally challenged by the circumstances of their personal lives and have habitually struggled to adapt to the demands of the educational milieu.

Because Ms. Soo is acknowledged as a strong educator, she generally receives more than her share of these students who require an inordinate amount of individual attention and the assistance of many resource and support staff members.

It is among these students, that have never experienced the classroom as a friendly place, that the impact of the drumming appears to have had an especially deep, comprehensive effect. These students are significantly more focused, comfortable and successful within the classroom milieu. For the first time, these students are integrated within the community of the classroom.

The assumption that you can't win 'em all may need to be re-examined. To varying degrees all of Ms. Soo's students seem to be empowered by this new tool and are being provided with the experience and opportunity to evaluate anew their potential for success in the world. It is a phenomenon that shouts out for more research and longitudinal studies.

Yours,

Gary Robbins, M.A., Special Ed., Counseling and School Psychology
Westminster Avenue Elementary School