Since I have become a teacher I have loved more than I have ever loved before. I have loved about 200 students, each one amazing in their own way. Even the ones that made my eye twitch, I loved them. I didn't love them perfectly, some I didn't even really love well. But I loved them. I have 17 babies this year that I love.
Our students make up a majority of a teacher's life. At least 5 days a week (sometimes more) and about 8 hours a day (sometimes more then, too) we are with them. And when we aren't with them, we think about them. A teacher's goal is to do everything they can to ensure not only that their children learn and do their best, but that they grow up knowing how to be a good person. We want them to feel loved, cherished, important, unique, and safe. We, as teachers, try our hardest to provide that. We structure our classrooms to best serve the learning community within. We talk to our kids and "get to the bottom" of what they are feeling. We pull them aside to help them achieve. We discipline them to help them learn.
But we can only do so much.
My head popped off my pillow around 5:30 am on Saturday morning. (Don't ask me why... I have NO idea.) So, naturally, as a child of the facebook generation, I open up my facebook to see how Friday was shaping up for my friends and family back home. 5:30am on Saturday in Seoul is about 2:30pm on Friday in Texas. The horror had already happened. For over an hour I read articles, watched live coverage, read posts, and cried. I truly don't know a single teacher who didn't cry.
You see, it's hard for a teacher to not picture THEIR school, THEIR friends, and THEIR BABIES in that situation. I pictured my school from Irving and my amazing principals who I have no doubt would have given their lives for our students. I pictured my classroom, our lock down procedures, and knew that even with locked doors, no lights, and 30 kids huddled in the corner, we were always so exposed.
I don't understand it.
What adds to the sadness is the anger, finger pointing, and name calling that has been going on. Anger is a natural part of grieving, but putting your anger up on a political stage is over doing it right now.
I'm all for having your own opinion. In fact, one of my favorite things to teach is argument essays. But, I teach my kids how to have their own opinions, but be respectful of others as well. Differing opinions are always around. If you don't listen to other opinions or always count yours as better, your brain is stagnant.
There are no quick fixes to any problems. There isn't really a right or wrong way to go about fixing a problem. But there is a way to be kind, respectful, loving, and empathetic.
As a teacher, I am sick about the happenings on Friday in Newtown. I am sick about the way some people are treating others. And I have renewed my energy to teach my students to be kind, respectful, loving, and tolerant.
I pray we take this chance to teach our children how to love. Show them how to be kind. Remind them to always cling to God.
God, please heal us all.
-Sara
I could not have said it better.
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