Boy With Autism Fails Exams, Receives The Most Unexpected Letter From School
Teacher Ruth Clarkson of Lansbury Bridge School & Sports College wrote a touching letter to an 11-year-old boy with autism after he failed his SAT exams. Named Ben Twist, the boy recently took his SAT exams, and even though he did his best, the results weren’t what he was expecting. Mrs. Clarkson took to consideration that exams aren’t everything and wrote that in a touching letter to the boy.
The teacher pointed out that Ben has many other talents that aren’t measured in these tests. Those include his artistic talents, his abilities in sport, his musical ability, his kindness, his growing independence, and much more. After Bens mother, Gail Twist, read the letter she was left in tears. She found it so touching she posted a photo of the letter on Twitter with the caption “In tears. A letter to my 11 yr old autistic son from his school. “These tests only measure a little bit of you”.
More info: Twitter (h/t: distractify)
Meet Ben Twist – an autistic 11-year-old student at the Lansbury Bridge School & Sports College
Unfortunately, he failed his SAT exams, then later received the most unexpected letter from his teacher
Not only did it leave Ben’s mother in tears, but other Twitter users found it very moving as well
Mommy told Metro Ben thought the letter was ‘amazing’ and that ‘he couldn’t quite believe that someone had said all those lovely things about him’
490Kviews
Share on Facebook
I agree Maheak, passing a test does not guarantee success in life. Ben will succeed because he certainly has the right 'team' behind him!
Load More Replies...
Sooo cute. i am a biology teacher and i dont agree with all of these tests.! Its not usefull.It only works to start competition between people.
There are many teachers like this about, they just don't get recognised anywhere near as often as they should, because they are measured by these test results too!
Load More Replies...
When I failed my standardized math tests, I always felt stupid when I saw my friends' scores. I would have loved to get a letter like this.
Load More Replies...
If the test doesn't matter all that much why even put an autistic child through that? Maybe someone can explain what the SAT exams are anyways. Clearly not the same thing we have here in the states.
They are compulsory tests that all 10/11 year old students do in their final year at primary school (similar to elementary), mostly they are used to measure the school but also the results are given to the Secondary school that the child will be moving up to and to the family of the child
Load More Replies...
This is a way to really teach intelligent. This is a way to instill confidence in a guy. This should be the way to humanely teach. What a good teacher! Like a mom
I had a teacher like that. It was in the 6th grade, her name was Mrs. Brand. Now 78, her impact on my life is everlasting. And of all the teachers, instructors, professors, deans she is the only one who's name I remember with gratitude and fondness!
All teachers should be like Mrs Clarckson. I had very good teachers, but this one took teaching to another level.
Nice action, but anyone else bother that first bullet point on the list was empty? I supposed Ben felt that way
Awesome kid, how highly talented he is. Awesome family who inspired such awesome initiative and awesome words from a certainly awesome school. Here, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, I am much too far from the events. Nothing defines any of us. Let us not allow that any facet of the diamonds all of us are be capable of defining us. He is a brave boy with an enormous heart bearing the greatness of the stars in the sky. God bless you.
its unfortunate that we perpetuate the lie. SATS were never to test children, they were to test how much the school had taught them, in this case it's the school that failed NOT the child.
"Book smart" doesn't mean "life ready". This young man has all the attributes to make him a successful member of society with a lot to offer.
Awesome teacher! But why is an 11-year-old doing SAT exams? The tests are meant for high-school students who are applying to college or University, not for kids in Grade 5. I never took the SAT, but I didn't have any problem with getting accepted into 3 Universities (in Canada). Is the testing process different in the States?
I think this is in the UK, where you do your SATs at 11
Load More Replies...
This is the most beautiful thing I've ever read, why can't all schools be like this I'm 11 too tell ur son I wish him the best
As someone said: Tests just measure your ability to remember things you'll probably don't need in real life.
In tears myself after reading this beautiful letter. Bravo to a wonderful teacher who "gets it" You are blessed with a special gift :)
...only measures a little bit of you... I think many non-autistic people sometimes have this problem too. Sometimes I get really bad results at tests because they didn't ask for what I'm good at. Other times my results are surprisingly good because they only asked what I'm good at, even if there's a lot I wouldn't be good at. For example when I was doing an IQ test I got really high (160 I think) mostly because vast majority of the problems were simply different versions of the same problem.
Now that's a great teacher and precious student! Congratulations to both of you! God bless them beyond measure!!!
I almost didn't make it through this article and I am having trouble even typing this because some stupid "shockwave flash" c**p won't stop trying to load. It keeps freezing my screen. I'm seriously disappointed. This site seems to have good articles. I won't be clicking bored panda links anymore though. Your adverts are obnoxious. (before you blame my computer, it can run Sims just fine - my computer is not the problem) This took almost 10 minutes to type because of the freezing and trying to reload the video ad. *leaving frustrated and not coming back.
As usual, it's easier to test people than recognize their real abilities, moreover with autistic people, what does a test mean in our societies ( speaking from France where tests are everywhere for everything....)
Try your Best .. failure is in your head mate not on a piece of paper , fins what you love and talent will grow. Love yourself, be happy and enjoy life . Obviously people love you for you! You cant ask for anything more than that! Take care fella hope you read this . X
Now Nicky Morgan has been sacked and her predecessor at education has been sacked, can normal SATS service resume?
Beautiful sweet story. It's not a bunch of stupid questions that define a person it's the person themselves he doesn't see that he failed a test he sees how many qualities he does have that make him a success. I love the sweet mindset he has I want everybody to be able to see things like he does. No matter what he sees the positive
The world would be a much better place if all people would realize how much a small gesture like this can mean to others!!!
I agree Maheak, passing a test does not guarantee success in life. Ben will succeed because he certainly has the right 'team' behind him!
Load More Replies... Sooo cute. i am a biology teacher and i dont agree with all of these tests.! Its not usefull.It only works to start competition between people.
There are many teachers like this about, they just don't get recognised anywhere near as often as they should, because they are measured by these test results too!
Load More Replies... When I failed my standardized math tests, I always felt stupid when I saw my friends' scores. I would have loved to get a letter like this.
Load More Replies... If the test doesn't matter all that much why even put an autistic child through that? Maybe someone can explain what the SAT exams are anyways. Clearly not the same thing we have here in the states.
They are compulsory tests that all 10/11 year old students do in their final year at primary school (similar to elementary), mostly they are used to measure the school but also the results are given to the Secondary school that the child will be moving up to and to the family of the child
Load More Replies... This is a way to really teach intelligent. This is a way to instill confidence in a guy. This should be the way to humanely teach. What a good teacher! Like a mom
I had a teacher like that. It was in the 6th grade, her name was Mrs. Brand. Now 78, her impact on my life is everlasting. And of all the teachers, instructors, professors, deans she is the only one who's name I remember with gratitude and fondness!
All teachers should be like Mrs Clarckson. I had very good teachers, but this one took teaching to another level.
Nice action, but anyone else bother that first bullet point on the list was empty? I supposed Ben felt that way
Awesome kid, how highly talented he is. Awesome family who inspired such awesome initiative and awesome words from a certainly awesome school. Here, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, I am much too far from the events. Nothing defines any of us. Let us not allow that any facet of the diamonds all of us are be capable of defining us. He is a brave boy with an enormous heart bearing the greatness of the stars in the sky. God bless you.
its unfortunate that we perpetuate the lie. SATS were never to test children, they were to test how much the school had taught them, in this case it's the school that failed NOT the child.
"Book smart" doesn't mean "life ready". This young man has all the attributes to make him a successful member of society with a lot to offer.
Awesome teacher! But why is an 11-year-old doing SAT exams? The tests are meant for high-school students who are applying to college or University, not for kids in Grade 5. I never took the SAT, but I didn't have any problem with getting accepted into 3 Universities (in Canada). Is the testing process different in the States?
I think this is in the UK, where you do your SATs at 11
Load More Replies... This is the most beautiful thing I've ever read, why can't all schools be like this I'm 11 too tell ur son I wish him the best
As someone said: Tests just measure your ability to remember things you'll probably don't need in real life.
In tears myself after reading this beautiful letter. Bravo to a wonderful teacher who "gets it" You are blessed with a special gift :)
...only measures a little bit of you... I think many non-autistic people sometimes have this problem too. Sometimes I get really bad results at tests because they didn't ask for what I'm good at. Other times my results are surprisingly good because they only asked what I'm good at, even if there's a lot I wouldn't be good at. For example when I was doing an IQ test I got really high (160 I think) mostly because vast majority of the problems were simply different versions of the same problem.
Now that's a great teacher and precious student! Congratulations to both of you! God bless them beyond measure!!!
I almost didn't make it through this article and I am having trouble even typing this because some stupid "shockwave flash" c**p won't stop trying to load. It keeps freezing my screen. I'm seriously disappointed. This site seems to have good articles. I won't be clicking bored panda links anymore though. Your adverts are obnoxious. (before you blame my computer, it can run Sims just fine - my computer is not the problem) This took almost 10 minutes to type because of the freezing and trying to reload the video ad. *leaving frustrated and not coming back.
As usual, it's easier to test people than recognize their real abilities, moreover with autistic people, what does a test mean in our societies ( speaking from France where tests are everywhere for everything....)
Try your Best .. failure is in your head mate not on a piece of paper , fins what you love and talent will grow. Love yourself, be happy and enjoy life . Obviously people love you for you! You cant ask for anything more than that! Take care fella hope you read this . X
Now Nicky Morgan has been sacked and her predecessor at education has been sacked, can normal SATS service resume?
Beautiful sweet story. It's not a bunch of stupid questions that define a person it's the person themselves he doesn't see that he failed a test he sees how many qualities he does have that make him a success. I love the sweet mindset he has I want everybody to be able to see things like he does. No matter what he sees the positive
The world would be a much better place if all people would realize how much a small gesture like this can mean to others!!!
616
39