Jamaal Charles, like all of us who pursue greatness in something, had to start somewhere.

It didn’t matter that Charles battled a learning disability. He needed a chance. The Special Olympics gave him that chance.

Because of that, “… I learned I can fly,” Charles once told a crowd at the 2015 Special Olympics opening ceremony. It helped him discover a talent he didn’t know he had, he continued.

Oh, how special discovery is in the life of a 10-year-old, be it through athletics or just plain mental exercise.

The gold medal Charles won in the Special Olympics was just the start of an athletic career that culminated in more than a decade in the National Football League. That same 10-year-old became the cover guy of a video game app. That same guy who dazzled the Port Arthur locals in the early days of Memorial High School — the one who earned his way to the University of Texas and won a national championship as a freshman — the one who has a story like none other has stayed in my mind the past two days.

So have kids at Port Neches-Groves and Little Cypress-Mauriceville.

Back in December, I covered a flag football game that ended up unifying students of all abilities from both schools more than the competition pit one group against another. Describing the joy of volunteering student-athletes helping, coaching and cheering on their schoolmates wouldn’t do enough justice to explain the importance of the event.

Still, there was a story worth telling. Maybe U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos wouldn’t think so.

Mrs. DeVos, please meet Jamaal Charles. (Like, call him up and invite him to Washington, or something.) Don’t prevent someone from potentially following in his footsteps.

The funding your agency has proposed to cut from the federal budget helped lift his wings and strengthen Port Arthur’s posture as the place of (nationally-renowned) productive people.

Maybe the Special Olympics can generate $100 million per year, as DeVos claimed. But doesn’t produce begin with a seed?

DeVos doesn’t think the Special Olympics needs a seed. What a shame.

The Department of Education’s seed gives hundreds of thousands of American children and millions around the world a platform to grow, to build confidence, to take part in something, to compete, to represent, to smile, to be happy and make us supporters happy.

You know who also benefits? Volunteers. Many of them from that December flag football game were student-athletes coaching those with special needs, those who otherwise wouldn’t get a night under the lights.

One of the volunteers from that November game is now a quarterback at Texas. Another is going to play volleyball at Lamar. This was their platform to give back to those they share(d) the halls with, to learn about volunteerism and how to make responsible use of their position as well-known, all-around hometown boys and girls doing good.

Our communities will be just fine with young, hometown heroes setting an example away from the playing surface. But I’m pretty sure they felt even better sharing the same field with those who just needed a chance.

I heard no gripes from the volunteers. No whines. No “I’m too good for this.” Everyone was all in.

If only Betsy DeVos could see that.

Her reasons for proposing a cut to the Special Olympics are, at best (but for worse), mathematical. They sure aren’t logical when kids of all ages and backgrounds fight for something normally developing people may take for granted — the gift of inclusion.

Sadly, I don’t expect much more logic from someone who surmises grizzly bears are a concern to the safety of Wyoming school children. I made it out of the Arkansas backwoods with my diploma just fine, and not a single scratch from Smokey.

A simple visit to a Special Olympics venue would help Mrs. DeVos see the real threat to today’s education — taking away the gift of inclusion.

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I.C. Murrell can be reached at 721-2435 or at ic.murrell@panews.com. On Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews