Bowling

CORRECTION: Originally, the lead said "Fifty-something," but that was wrong. John is 57 and would not have been in a high school eduation class 50 years ago.)


Forty-something years ago, John’s special education teacher decided her kids needed more than classroom studies and keep-busy work.

The more she decided on was bowling.

Bowling is a big undertaking for kids with limited physical abilities and even more limited intellectual capacity. The teacher persevered, though, and with the help of parents and a bowling establishment, she soon had 20 or so students bowling every Monday.

The bowling now is every other Saturday morning. For some kids, bowling is the highlight of their social activities.

OK, we’ll get it out of the way. The bowlers range from around 30 years old to John’s 57, with intellectual and emotional ages 5 and up. Physically, none is a kid. Realistically, none will ever be anything but a kid. They will never be older than they are now.

If you saw these kids bowl, you would see dedication and intensity. Every bowler takes the game seriously. Each intends to knock down every pin. Scores are automatic, but not one kid ever says anything about “I beat you.”

Not one has any animosity when inside the bowling alley. No one says anything bad about anyone else. No one argues.

The teacher more than a half century ago had an idea, and her idea has proved more successful than she thought.