Kids Get Into Spirit of Western Heritage Day

Although many children at his elementary school may never know how it feels to walk around the block, Glynn Thompson wanted them to ride a horse back to the 19th century.

Thompson, principal at West Valley Special Education Center, organized Friday’s Western Heritage Day. The event at the Balboa Boulevard campus featured pony rides, Native American crafts and games, hay bales, wall-sized western murals and even a showing of the Charlie Chaplin classic “The Gold Rush.”

Activities were designed to complement students’ study of early California and western history.

“Students with disabilities don’t take part in a lot of activities that you and I take for granted,” Thompson said. “I like to do special events like this to try to bring subjects to life.”

The principal recalled the behavior of one student during a recent field trip to the beach. The student had read and heard about the beach his whole life, but “it didn’t transfer,” in Thompson’s words. When he saw the real thing, he began scooping sand into his pockets so he could show his family.

That same spirit of discovery was evident Friday as children took turns riding ponies and visiting the various theme-organized booths in the auditorium.

A 10-year-old boy from another San Fernando Valley school played the fiddle and texts on the walls told stories of the frontier.

In most cases, booths were run by older students with behavioral problems that are less limiting than some students’ severe physical impairments. Children 3 to 12 with conditions ranging from autism to physical disability attend the school.

Students from neighboring Valley Alternative Magnet School also lent a hand, which illustrated what Thompson called the “mutual benefit” of events like Friday’s.