Connecting...one student at a time!

What I miss most about being a teacher or a site administrator is the daily connection with kids.  I loved building relationships with students and having conversations with them.  They are so funny and insightful.  When I visit school sites in our district, I inevitably get sidetracked talking to a student.  This week, I had two encounters that made my week and yet caused me to worry.

When I walked into the resource room, I noticed one student sitting alone by himself in the back of the room.  He had a packet of worksheets in front of him.  He sat for at least ten minutes doing absolutely nothing except pick at his fingers.  I sat down beside him and first started discussing the work he was to complete.  We did a few pages together and somehow got on the topic of maggots.  I really don't know how it happened, but the next thing I knew, we were sharing our maggot stories.  We grossed each other out and then got on the topic of black widow spiders.  This student's demeanor changed dramatically.  He smiled, laughed, and couldn't wait to tell me other experiences with gross insects and how much he despises them.  I saw his intelligence, his humor, and his compassion.  After we left the classroom, the principal shared that the student rarely talks with anyone and is significantly depressed with extreme anxiety. My heart filled with worry.  Will there be an adult who will make sure this child gets a "warm handoff" as he moved through the grade levels?

My next encounter was with a fourth grade student who told me he wanted to be a scientist.  We got on the subject of rockets.  He knew about Elon Musk and the goal of getting to Mars.  He knew all about the Tesla and talked about the likelihood of developing a hover car.  He talked about his career goals and how he can't decide if he should find a cure for cancer first or if he should work on developing a system where people could live above ground on Mars.  He believed by developing a contained atmospheric sphere in which people who live and grow plants to produce the necessary oxygen, that it was possible.  I asked him about his interest in robotics and suggested he get involved at the middle school level.  (One of our middle schools is sending two teams to the World Vex Competition!)  He knew of the school and said, "No, I can't go to that school.  I don't know where I will go to middle school.  I know people will make fun of me so I need to go some place where I won't get picked on so much.  I am different, you know."   In a few brief minutes, this student showed me his brilliance and passion.  He shared his dreams that include making the world a better place.  This student and his siblings live with his grandparents.  Again, my heart filled with worry.

One of the reasons I feel so strongly about having a strong public education system is that our future depends on it.  I do believe what we do makes a life or death difference.  Our schools need to be filled with compassionate individuals who respond to the anxious, depressed student and the "different" kids.

This morning, I participated in a professional development with superintendents in neighboring districts.  One of the topics was on "Socially Just" schools.  "Social justice is defined as promoting a just society by challenging injustice and valuing diversity.  It exists when all people share a common humanity and therefore have a right to equitable treatment, support for their human rights, and a fair allocation of community resources." "Social justice is generally equated with the notion of equality or equal opportunity in society."  "A social justice framework is a way to seeing and acting aimed at resisting unfairness and inequity while enhancing freedom and possibility for all.  It pays primary attention to how people and institutions may be used to liberate rather than oppress those least served by our decision making."  (References from Department of Government and Justice Studies, Appalachian State University; Sensoy, O. & DiAngelo, R; Toowoomba Catholic Education.)

Let's continue, as public educators and members of the greater community to be inclusive. Let's continue to promote the dreams of our youth and value all of them as integral members of our society and future!