The question occurred to me recently… What if we adults, were the ‘only’ classroom our children got for the foreseeable future…?
As each day brings us closer to realizing how much we really don’t know, and tensions rise as differing views amplify the struggles, it is becoming paramount that we look beyond what we want, what we think kids need, even what we KNOW they need, and we start BEING what they need.
NO one can argue that the social/emotional health of society is currently in the red zone. As stressors continue to compound, the temptation to fall into despair is ever more present.
We must remember, WE HAVE the GIFTS to BE THERE for each other. And when one of us is broken, the rest need to huddle closer to provide the support.
The beginning of the quarantine brought out the best in so many people
Let us not lapse in our goodness and intention.
We owe it to our children to show them there IS a loving way.
If a child doesn’t learn to divide this year, or write a well-developed paragraph, or even raise their reading level, but they learn how to love…how to walk with hope, not fear, if they could witness the adults in their world handling conflict and opposing views with dignity and kindness… then truly, what would be lost?
In the big picture (and this comes from a veteran teacher!) a year behind is not going to measure up as a loss, nearly as much as a child who is wrought with anxiety and fear.
Let us do our children right. Let us BE the CLASSROOM they need, today.