Americans were thrilled to have Pope Francis on US soil this past week. People began lining up before dawn in New York's Central Park, hoping for a glimpse of the Pope or the
Popemobile when it passed by 15 hours later. The excitement in the air surrounding this humble Pope makes him seem even bigger than Madonna, The Rolling Stones, U2, or any other rock star.
Pope Francis seems to personify goodness, fairness, and tolerance. So many people - in interviews and informal conversations- openly discuss how they have hope in their hearts because of this one man. In the tumultuous and violent times in which we live, as we bear witness from the TV news in our living rooms terrible acts of barbaric decapitations; pilgrims' deaths from stampedes on the way to Mecca; stories of child abuse and child pornography; wretched poverty and contagious global illnesses, it is not a surprise that such a gentle soul coming to earth in the form of a Pope has captured our attention.
I am not a Catholic, but I like this Pope. I like his lack of pretension and his outreach to children and the poor. I like his genuine and smiling demeanor, as well as his way of listening and accepting. His tenderness with the sick, frail, and with children forces me to tears. He authentic self and genuine spirit come forth- and I really like the way he actually practices what he preaches. (Sorry for the cliche, but I simply HAD to use it in this blog! Couldn't resist!) Pope Francis exudes goodness.
Pope Francis also offers real and sincere instructions for the entire world. Some of the lessons I have heard include: take care of others; tell people you care about them, but more importantly, don't just say it, show it with your actions; don't show off with your material "stuff"; be kind to those who have less than you have; be kind to those who have more than you have; in fact, be kind to everyone.
Just as Pope Francis extends these real life lessons to all of the world, every day, classroom teachers have the privilege and responsibility to impart similar lessons to their students. Just think of how much better our nation's schools would be if everyone were teaching lessons of humility, tolerance, caring, and acceptance. I like thinking about that improved world, and because I am an optimist who believes in the goodness of others, I do think it is within reach.
Just as the Pope is a role model for the citizens of the world, classroom teachers are role models for the citizens of their classrooms and school buildings. We must remember that we are not just teaching subjects, but that we are teaching human beings, and that helping others to do good and to see the good in others makes the world a better place for all.
"A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just." Pope Francis
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We all know and remember the childhood rhyme "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." If only these 13 words were true.
Every individual has been impacted at some point by cruel words. On a personal note, I fell and broke my front teeth when I was 9 years old (they had finally grown in after a year of NO front teeth!) The break was in the center, and my front teeth had a missing section that looked like an inverted V. Some kids called them "Dracula" teeth, and I became so extremely self-conscious of my teeth that for years thereafter, I NEVER would smile to show my broken teeth. I eventually had my front teeth filed straight across, and then capped years later, but I will never forget the pain of those mean words. I also wore thick glasses beginning at age 6, and I was the victim of all of the standard barbs like "four eyes" and "Coke bottle bottoms for glasses." The lenses of my glasses were so heavy that they would break in half while sitting on my nose! (this was years before the featherweight lenses came to be- my lenses were made from real glass.) My prescription changed so rapidly, that my parents had to spend money (which they did not have) to buy new glasses for me several times a year, so I also heard negatives about my vision (and lack thereof) from my two brothers and my parents. Although poor vision is not the same as other physical flaws, I still remember the words about my glasses. No one was ever happier to buy contact lenses at age 16!
Besides taunts about physical attributes, mean words about family, brainpower, monetary standing, etc., can be extremely hurtful. Aside from parents, I think teachers have the singular largest ability to impact students with negative or positive words. For example, I know a man whose 9th grade guidance counselor told him he would "Never amount to anything." Although the man is now in his 50's and a successful businessman worth several million dollars, he has never forgotten those painful words. To assuage his own ego and to validate his success, he invites the guidance counselor to lunch once a year, every year.
Even in the classroom, teachers have tremendous power to harm or heal with their words. When I was teaching, I preferred to dignify incorrect responses with words like "You are almost at the correct answer. Do you want to continue, or ask a friend to help with this answer?", rather than "Are you kidding me? Can't you read?" or something equally as derogatory. I endured classroom teachers when I was in school who delighted in demeaning answers provide by students. I was fairly good at school, which is why I became a teacher, but I can still remember some of the degrading remarks some of my teachers spoke to my classmates. Just think- I was so impacted by my classmates' humiliation by mean teacher words, that I remember the teachers, situations, and words perfectly all these years later, and I was not even the intended victim. Words are SO powerful.
In closing, teachers have a great capacity to hurt or heal and to encourage or disparage with their words. Choose yours carefully, because your words will be etched on the hearts of your students for many years to come.
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Dede is the co-host of The Total Education Q & A, which can be heard on Blogtalk Radio at
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/totaltutor
Dede could really use your financial help to make her dream of helping kids who need glasses come true. Please visit http://www.gofundme.com/zvzhuk for complete details about her upcoming book GRADY GETS GLASSES!
I had an exhausting, exhilarating, depressing, and uplifting 3 days this past week. I know that my listed adjectives are opposites, but those four words describe all 3 days perfectly.
I spent Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (9/11) as a reporter for The Total Education Network at the Flight 93 Memorial and newly opened Visitor's Center in Shanksville, PA. I was with my former student and now colleague Jill Cueni-Cohen, who is a journalist and writer for many different papers and magazines. I have not written as a journalist since college, but as an English teacher, I did not forget the importance of making connections during an interview.
As a result of spending these 3 days at Shanksville, I am a changed person.
I want to tell you what I learned during those 3 days. Everyone has a story, and sometimes their pain is so great, that they need to tell the story over and over again to make it be real, even if they do not want it to be real. Such was the case of the family members who survived, and who must deal forever with the loss of their child, husband, wife, friend, son, daughter, brother, sister, aunt, or uncle every day. Jill and I were fortunate to spend many hours interviewing first responders, family members, clergy, and townspeople. We listened to them, cried with them, and bonded with them. Covering Flight 93 on the anniversary of 9/11 was an experience unlike any other in my lifetime. I know this will not be my only blog about this 3 day experience.
Although this blog is called LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE BUNNY TEACHER, today, the Bunny Teacher would like to share a few of the lessons with you that she learned this week.
First, the pain of 9/11 will never go away for anyone who experienced that terrible day. The new Visitor's Center has a DVD of the events of the morning of 9/11/2001 running continuously. Clips of the reports from FOX news, CBS, ABC, and NBC take each visitor right back to those moments of shock and surprise and confusion on that beautiful Tuesday morning of September 11, 2001. A clip of President Bush's reassuring voice is heard as well, and the visitors and media who watched this were all mesmerized; it was as though we were back on 9/11/2001, and we could not unglue our eyes from watching the horrors on the TV screen.
Second, people really NEED each other - even strangers - to discuss and share their feelings and memories about this terrible day in our nation's history. The pain, anxiety, and confusion are still too much to bear alone. The visitors we saw and talked with were sharing their personal stories about where they were that day, and how the terrorism of 9/11 forever impacted their lives. Talking, listening, and sharing do not eradicate the pain, but somehow it becomes easier to deal with when shared with a friend or stranger. This was the case as a huge group of strangers unfurled and then folded the Flight 93 Heroes' Flag together, and we shared our feelings and our agony which we still carry with us.
Third, it is important to remember those innocent and courageous individuals who lost their lives that day. It was an ordinary day, and some of the 40 passengers on Flight 93 became extraordinary heroes when they tried to commandeer the plane to prevent it from hitting a target in Washington, D.C. It is an overwhelming thought to ask yourself if you would have done the same. I do not know how I would have reacted, personally, but I honor each of those who saved so many other lives by sacrificing their own.
Although it was difficult and painful to be there, and I cried many times, especially when listening to the final voice messages left by the victims of Flight 93 for their loved ones and when interviewing family members, I was also exhilarated and proud of being an American. I was glad that i could share this experience with so many strangers, who became trusted friends and confidantes during our brief encounters on this unique and hallowed ground. We all became one person in our love for our country and our pain at such tragic losses.
Everyone has a story. Sometimes listening is so much more important than talking.
Jill Cueni-Cohen has written a book about 9/11- different from any other books about that day. The title is LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY, and it is avaialble at www.jillbooks.com
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www.dederittman.com
Dede is the co-host of The Total Education Q & A, which can be heard on Blogtalk Radio at
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/totaltutor
Dede could really use your financial help to make her dream of helping kids who need glasses come true. Please visit http://www.gofundme.com/zvzhuk for complete details about her upcoming book GRADY GETS GLASSES!
The official Labor Day has its roots in 1894, when President Grover Cleveland declared the first Monday in September as a federal holiday honoring the economic and social achievements of American workers. Sadly, this declaration came after a failed attempt by government to break up the Pullman railroad strike, in which many lives were lost. The movement to have a day to recognize the contributions of workers actually began around 1882, but was not formalized until 1894.
Labor Day has become accepted as the unofficial last weekend of summer, and the day has become synonymous with "back to school."
I like the idea of a "Labor Day" as much as I like the idea of work itself. I grew up in a little town called Natrona Heights, which is a part of the valley of the Allegheny and Kiskiminetas Rivers, about 25 miles northeast of the city of Pittsburgh. The Alle-Kiski Valley has its roots primarily in two industries- steel and coal - and many ethnic groups settled in "The Valley" to pursue their dreams of learning to speak English, working hard for a fair wage, and raising their children with the hopes that their children would enjoy better lives because they were born in America. My brothers and I were taught the significance of hard work and responsibility by both our parents and our extended family of aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins. More important than discussing a good work ethic, both of our parents led by example. My dad worked for Allegheny Ludlum Steel for 43.5 years- on the swing shift for all of those years! 8 to 4; 4 to 12; 12 to 8, for 43.5 years. I do not know how he kept that crazy sleep-depriving schedule, plus he managed to do big carpentry and woodworking projects for our home. Dad also worked with the Little League Association and managed to build a 12 by 16 platform of beautiful scenes, towns, and running trains each and every Christmas. My mother volunteered at school and kept our house running ship-shape. We never ran out of any product, dinner was never late, and she made our house into a welcoming and inviting home for both family and strangers. I have to add- she even ironed my dad's T shirts, underwear, and dust rags!
My older brother George and I were encouraged by my mother to take a little sales job (selling candy, door to door, for the best candy maker EVER) in order to make money to buy Christmas gifts. Mom helped us to write and submit our orders, and to count the money (it had to be exact- she was a graduate of Duff's Iron City Business Institute.) She monitored our sales progress and advised us on our sales pitches. She came with us on the first deliveries to make sure we were appropriately business-like and grateful (meanwhile, George was 10 and I was 8.) We learned some big lessons those first few years, including: not everyone is nice to kids; some people are so lonely they will buy candy from strangers; as kids, you have the ability to turn strangers into friends; collect the money up front; and if you say you are going to deliver on Tuesday, you MUST deliver on Tuesday! We sold candy for about 8-10 years, and neither George nor I ever forgot those early lessons of learning to deal with people, committing oneself to be responsible to others, and working to fulfill one's duties (even if you don't feel like it.) Those early lessons have served us throughout our lives.
As a teacher for 37 years, I witnessed the lessening of a strong work ethic in students and young people as my career advanced. I have wondered : do parents still teach their children about the importance of being reliable, being on time, and doing what is asked ? I am not sure that answer is a resounding YES across the board. In some cases, parents seem to be trying to be their children's friends, rather than teaching and guiding as parents. What to do? As classroom teachers, you are in a powerful position to influence students. You can teach, model, and extol the importance of a strong work ethic, and the value of being responsible and reliable. If you are a teacher, perhaps you are thinking "Once again, the teacher must help to parent in our society." True, but in many cases, teachers spend more time with students than their own parents, so teachers are modeling a strong work ethic not only for the good of the child, but for society as a whole.
I know how much I appreciate it when a repairman is on time, or when a task is done correctly the first time. Our society is better when people are responsible to not only themselves, but to others. Do you agree?
Have a great Labor Day weekend!
Rittman Publishing, LLC ®
Connect with Dede!
Twitter @dederittman
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Visit Dede's webpage for complete details on her award-winning book, STUDENT TEACHING: THE INSIDE SCOOP FROM A MASTER TEACHER
www.dederittman.com
Dede is the co-host of The Total Education Q & A, which can be heard on Blogtalk Radio at
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/totaltutor
Dede could really use your financial help to make her dream of helping kids who need glasses come true. Please visit http://www.gofundme.com/zvzhuk for complete details about her upcoming book GRADY GETS GLASSES!
