Think about this the next time someone makes a negative comment about: “Our schools”… A lot of folks in public education are fighting with all that they have, with all of the entire strength of their hearts!
From Teacher Anthony Swann:
“So this week I experienced something I have never experienced before since I’ve been teaching. One day this week, I got a knock on the door. I was asked to step outside. It was then that I was informed that one of my students had lost his father VERY unexpectedly. I was instructed not to tell him. Well, I followed directions. I was torn to pieces within! I watched him all day long as he was smiling and laughing throughout the day knowing what he was going to face when we dismissed school that day. Well yesterday, his mom called me and told me he had a really rough time and she wanted me to spend time with him. Well…I did. I took him out to eat and then we went to play video games and watch movies! All he kept saying was, “I can’t believe I am chilling with my teacher!” That’s all he kept saying was that. Finally, I say, “Why do you keep saying that?” He says, “Because I love you!” I could’ve cried right then but I didn’t! I know he really needs me and I plan on being there. Mom even asked me to walk him in during the funeral! WOW! (This is why I teach! This is why I serve! I love my children! God gets the glory!)”
This so much reminded me of the children who were playing and reading in my office after the 9-11 terrorist attack. They were talking, laughing, acting in all of the wonderful ways that children act when they are fed their favorite fast-food, have uninterrupted access to educational toys, and interesting books. And yet behind our forced smiles and held back tears, was the frantic and saddened thoughts; as we desperately tried to find out the fate of their parents who worked in or near the Twin-Towers…
An important part of education (particularly in high school) is to prepare young people for the reality of the “real world”; but the other important part is, to the extent we can, to shield them from the pain of that world for as long as possible. The crisis for many children in our nation; is that they never get a chance to be children; the “bad” things of the world hits them hard, early and continuously, until every ounce of childhood is squeezed out of them… And then we expect them to come to school and act as if everything in their lives is wonderful. The good news (and there is always “good news”) There are many wonderful people waiting to meet, help and educate them at the point of their pain!
