In writing an article for another paper I recently came across the story of a fourth-grader who initiated a fundraiser for a new animal shelter in her area. The fact that it was a child who came up with the idea was amazing, but it was the backstory that caught my attention.
It seems each November/December holiday period the guidance counselor at her school focuses on giving back to others, including the community. Realizing that it’s hard for most fourth graders to give back financially, the counselor seeks to teach them to give back from their hearts.
Simple in concept, the idea is not a new one, but what is novel about this is that those things, community consciousness, paying it forward, it being more blessed to give than to receive, being part of the community of mankind, those things used to be intrinsic to our values, part of our culture, taught in our homes, churches and schools.
Somewhere along the way, perhaps when we let the morning prayers in each classroom slip away without kicking up a fuss, or when teachers were restricted to teaching a rigidly pre-planned curriculum, or when dozens of other things changed in our schools, the spontaneous lessons of life were left behind. There was once a time when teachers could actually stop their homogenized lesson plan to teach life lessons as situations arose.
And here and there, those teachers who are bold enough, have continued to use real life situations to illustrate to their students how to respond to things that aren’t mentioned in math, history and English literature.
To those teachers, I’d like to say a big ‘Thank You’ for your service in forming tomorrow’s leaders.
I’d love to have a dime for every time I’ve interviewed someone who said, “It all started with a teacher,” or “I wouldn’t be where I am today if not for a teacher” and “I had this one teacher who showed me something that I’ve never forgotten,” or some variation on those sentiments.
Teachers might think that they are just drumming dusty facts or endless numbers into the heads of students who would rather be playing video games or in the gym, but everything teachers do and say becomes a lesson, because children watch and listen more than you think they do, and they absorb what they see and hear the way a sponge absorbs water. (Although some of the numbers and dates run right on out like the tide.)
Teachers have the incredible task of instilling pride, knowledge, values, morals, work ethics, responsibility, dedication, goal orientation, self-discipline, self-respect and respect for others in thirty-minute increments, during which they are also required to teach things like how salamanders affect the environment.
Yes, these things should be taught in the home, but the sad truth is, in today’s world where parents work two and three jobs just to pay the bills, or where there is only one parent trying to be everything to everyone while holding down a job and putting food on the table, often times there are just simply not enough hours in the day to ensure that these lessons are being taught in the homes of all students.
Churches teach these things, too, but teachers are at the forefront each day, teaching not only from a textbook, but by example.
If you want a child to grow into a responsible adult, then they must be around responsible adults. If you want a child to learn community pride and have the desire to serve in that community, then they must see people doing so. If you want a child to be humble, polite and courteous, then they must see others being humble, polite and courteous.
Why do little girls play teacher? Haven’t you ever seen them, standing up in front of their dolls and stuffed rabbits, holding forth on how to say the Pledge of Allegiance or the Gettysburg Address? They are mimicking what they see and hear for seven-and-a-half hours each day.
As they grow older, kids may mimic what they see and hear in other, less obvious ways, like adding words to their vocabulary or speaking with a more confident voice. Boys often idolize their coaches, while girls tend to gravitate to teachers who dress well and display self-confidence.
Teachers have a daunting responsibility; they are teaching even when they are out in the community, where students see them at parades, in the mall and at sporting events. They are watching always.
We owe teachers a debt of gratitude that is immeasurable. They have taken our children and tried to give them the best academic education available, and in doing so, they have shaped the future for all of us…
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