Special education students from Jacksonville elementary schools visited Wal-Mart Wednesday morning to do Christmas shopping.
Teachers carted small groups of children from aisle to aisle, buying up clothes, toys and whatever else caught the students’ fancies.
Dr. Leslie Brinkman George, director of special education for the Jacksonville Independent School District, said it was the school’s annual shopping trip for its physically and cognitively impaired students.
“Each student has $50 to spend,” George said. “There are about 80 kids here today.”
After the morning shopping spree the teachers and students traveled to the Norman Activity Center for a feast.
George said the students had their pictures taken with Santa Claus as well.
She said the shopping day was sponsored by Dr. Steve Mostyn, an attorney from Houston.
George said Mostyn’s mother worked with special needs students in Tyler and his sister, Jackie Zigtema, used to work for JISD as a special education supervisor.
“This is in memory of his mother,” George said.
By Nathan Straus
http://www.jacksonvilleprogress.com/local/local_story_350214632.html