When my son was 4 years old, I was a social worker at Maine’s institution for the mentally retarded.  I am a huge advocate for the mentally retarded.

 

On a day off, I brought my son with me to the campus.  I wondered, “Wouldn’t it be great if my son could come to work with me everyday?"

 

Wow! What would happen to this 4-year-old if he were placed in a residence hall with other like-functioning children?  What would my son be like if he spent 8 hours a day with mentally retarded children?  I believe he would acquire their behaviors: he would talk retarded, walk retarded, eat retarded, act retarded. I believe he would acquire the behaviors of the mentally retarded.

 

Stephen, at 4 years old, could not swim against the tide of such peers in that setting at that age.  But -- 10 years later, he would have been under our direct care, custody, and control for 14 years.  And, at 14,  I could have dropped him off to live among the mentally retarded residents for 20 years and he would not have acquired any of their behaviors!