TEACHER'S CORNER: MARILYN BELL WORKS WITH DISABLED KIDS AT JEFFERSON SCHOOL

Marilyn Bell believes that education is a collaboration of ideas.

"As an educator, you use as many different techniques, ideas, and motivational and disciplinary tools as possible to have a successful program," Bell said.

"The importance is not whether a concept originated with you, but to make use of it. Someone else's creativity usually enriches your own."

Bell has worked at Jefferson Elementary School for the past two years with students who are health-impaired with multiple disabilities.

She began her career 22 years ago at Oran and has taught at Parkview State School for the Severely Handicapped in Cape Girardeau, and in Perryville's junior high learning disabilities program.

Bell has a bachelor's degree in elementary education with certification in special education as well as a master's degree in exceptional child from Southeast Missouri State University.

"Each succeeding year in teaching makes me realize that you become the educator you are, not only from university classes, but also from exposure to the successes of those who work with you."

Bell feels that education is a process which allows a student to become independent.

"Levels of independence are unique and contingent upon the child's degree of disability," she said.

"I think it is important to view the child as the adult he will become.

"It is often difficult to allow a child to gain independence. It seems easier, faster and more sympathetic in such a demanding world to do things for them. This attitude only prolongs unreasonable dependence.

"The joke at my house is that for years I automatically served and cut my children's food into neat, little bite-sized pieces.

"I finally stopped after my husband asked whether I thought our then 12-year-old son would some day have his future wife cut his food for him too."

Allowing independence often requires modifying some of the materials which Bell uses in the classroom. Most of the supplies used in the multiple disabilities room are made to meet individual needs.

"I receive help from Marilyn Sadler, a nurse," Bell said.

"She not only handles specific medical requirements for two of the students, but she also provides assistance in teaching and making materials.

Bell often keeps things until she finds a use for them.

"We use a variety of things often discarded by everyone else," she said. "Foam meat trays, empty candy boxes, old folders and binders and various containers have been used in unusual ways.

"My family even accuses me of lingering over dumpsters. You never know what treasures you may uncover."

Bell has a bulletin board in her classroom which reads, "People with disabilities, not different, just doing things differently."

Bell and her husband, Bill, have an older son, Darren, and twin girls, Jennifer and Stephanie, who are recent graduates of Notre Dame High School.

Her interests include creating materials for the classroom.

"I do like to cook, and I have always enjoyed eating," she said.