Teacher with Down国产视频檚 syndrome inspires children, parents and colleagues

When Noelia Garella was a child, a nursery school rejected her as 国产视频渁 monster国产视频�. Now 31, she is in a class of her own.

In the face of prejudice, she is the first person with Down国产视频檚 syndrome to work as a preschool teacher in Argentina 国产视频� and one of the few in the world.

Garella国产视频檚 case set a precedent after the school confronted a taboo 国产视频� could a person with a cognitive syndrome be in charge of a class?

Her two- and three-year-old pupils crowd around her affectionately in her classroom in the Jermonito nursery.

At her bidding, they sit down for a story and watch engrossed as she reads, following her lead as she imitates a shark, baring her teeth.

国产视频淚 adore this. Ever since I was little, I have always wanted to be a teacher, because I like children so much,国产视频� she tells AFP.

国产视频淚 want them to read and listen, because in society people have to listen to one another.国产视频�

Garella国产视频檚 determination inspired her colleagues to hire her at the preschool in the northern city of Cordoba, despite reservations in some quarters.

One party 国产视频渋n a position of responsibility国产视频� judged that she should not take classes because of her condition, said Alejandra Senestrari, the former director of the school who hired Garella.

Teachers, parents and even the city国产视频檚 mayor weighed in. They decided there was no reason Garella could not teach early-learning reading classes.

国产视频淲ith time, even those who had been opposed joined in the initiative to hire Noe as a teacher,国产视频� said Senestrari.

国产视频淲e very quickly realised that she had a strong vocation. She gave what the children in the nursery classes most appreciate, which is love.国产视频�

A genetic condition, Down国产视频檚 syndrome typically affects a person国产视频檚 physical and intellectual growth. In Garella国产视频檚 case, it has done nothing to diminish her optimism and self-belief.

Standing by her side, her mother Mercedes Cabrera looks tearful when her daughter tells the story of the day care centre director who told Garella国产视频檚 parents: 国产视频淣o monsters here.国产视频�

But Garella smiles. 国产视频淭hat teacher is like a story that I read to the children,国产视频� she says. 国产视频淪he is a sad monster, who knows nothing and gets things wrong. I am the happy monster.国产视频�

Other countries have stories of people with Down国产视频檚 syndrome who have become teachers.

But Garella国产视频檚 case is thought to be the first in Latin America, where disagreement over whether pupils, let alone teachers, with Down国产视频檚 syndrome should be accepted in public schools has generated controversy in the past.

Garella国产视频檚 colleagues have been moved by her case.

国产视频淚t has been a unique experience for the staff,国产视频� says Susana Zerdan, current director of the preschool.聽

国产视频淭he way the children accept her, incorporating her naturally into the school 国产视频� there is a lesson in life there for us all.国产视频�

Garella first joined the Cordoba public education system as an assistant for reading classes in 2012.

国产视频淚 always feel good with the children. Their parents love me and the other teachers and principals I have had are wonderful,国产视频� she says.

She likes to do Latin dancing in her spare time. She dreams of having children of her own and lately has been feeling flutters because she has 国产视频渕et someone国产视频�.

She has been jointly in charge, with another teacher, of a class in the Jermonito preschool since January.

国产视频淚 have a boy with Down国产视频檚 syndrome in my class. He is wonderful,国产视频� she says. 国产视频淥h, it is lovely when someone like me is born.国产视频�