For 32 years they called me "Teacher". All those years I tried to follow these words found in the book of Proverbs..."A wise teacher makes learning a JOY." Though my columns I have tried to share that joy. May you experience it today through my website.
"The Real Me Nobody Knows"...by real sixth grade students
This I remember. I remember the first days of school when those sixth graders entered my classroom. They all had one thing in common. They were always looking for something. For a few, it was trouble. For others it was a friend, teacher approval, good grades, or a way to escape or outdistance whatever was chasing them. As I look back, through the heart of a teacher, I realized this search most always centered on their need for somebody to understand them.
On one spring day we called the writing assignment, “The Real Me.” It took place March 22, 1990 in the Petal Middle School. I know the date because the sixth grade writer entered it at the top of her paper. Would you like to understand our children in 2006 in a more defined way? Listen with your heart as you read their writing assignment. You may be surprised what you learn.
“The Real Me”
The real me can’t be seen from the outside. People I love can only see it. Now I’m not the best there is with all this lovey-dovey stuff. I don’t really tell them that stuff, but I try to show them with my actions.
“The Real Me”
No one sees the real me. I am very funny…but no one ever laughs. Not many people even want to see it so I just try to be serious. Sometimes I feel like an encyclopedia. I know a lot but hardly anyone wants to know what I know.
“The Real Me”
People see me as a bully or a smart mouth. But the real me is just adventurous. I love to romp the woods and sit down to watch the animals play. I love to make things. I whittle statues out of pinewood or make whistles out of bamboo. (The next day.) I didn’t get completed on what I said yesterday. The other side I never let anyone see is an angry side. I hope no one ever sees this side.
Do you remember I wrote you might be surprised when you read what my students wrote some 16 years ago? Teachers, maybe the big surprise was you saw “The Real You” for the first time in my students’ writing assignment.
By the way if you are a real teacher…then TEACH. Always remember, the real teacher makes learning a JOY.
Teachers, use every color in the box!
The Question all Christian Teachers Must Answer
I will never forget the question at the conclusion of her letter, “Anyway, I was wondering how you, as a public school teacher, deal with it?”
A college student, majoring in science, wrote a letter to me many years ago. What was “it” she was referring to in her last paragraph?”
Was she questioning how she as a teacher would deal with discipline, low salaries and parental apathy? What about at risk students, individual differences, testing and more testing? Never could we overlook dealing with violence in our schools.
The reply to all of the above was and still is a resounding, “NO.”
Her haunting question was, “How do you, as a Christian, legally share your faith with students in our public schools?”
My response was you couldn't major on the legality. I definitely did not mean you ignore the law of the land. But, you can expose your students to Christianity in a real sense by your lifestyle of Christ like actions and reactions.
I'm afraid some teachers, including myself before I retired, fit the descriptive evaluation made by an innocent child. When told to draw a picture of his teacher he said quite honestly, “Oh, I can't make a picture of my teacher. I don't have a gray color.”
Could any of our students say that about us? Do they see us as stern, unsmiling, blah and aloof…hiding from them behind our desk, overwhelmed and colorless?
I hope not. You know, I don't think anyone ever described my Lord as someone who reminded him or her of a gray color. If we were to draw a picture of Him, we must use the color pink. Pink brings to my mind compassion and sensitively, gentle warmth and deep concern.
As teachers, color us pink.
Red has to be in His picture. He was and is alive with energy and enthusiasm. He has the power to motivate, the gift of laughter, and the ability to up lift and create.
As teachers, color us red.
Blue. We must not leave out blue. This color reminds me of the vastness of the skies and the unending solar system we are part of. There was no end to his patience to build bridges between others…to his powers to change the lives of those whom He came in contact with.
As teachers, color us blue.
My favorite color is yellow. In the picture of our Lord we must use broad, bright strokes of yellow. There was darkness in the world over 2000 years ago. He brought light to the worth of each individual.
As teachers, color us yellow.
I concluded my letter of long ago with these words,” When you are pulled in every direction, keep on keeping on with your science lesson plans. But, also teach them by example about acceptance and patience and responsibility and even about love.”
P.S. Teachers…don't forget to take a big box of crayons with you each day to add color and enthusiasm to your job when all you can feel and whisper is, “Color me tired.” I know first hand that color of tiredness after 32 years in the classroom.
When do I get to write a "smooth' draft?
Is your life one big rough draft?
This I remember. She was a new student. Obviously, I had failed to make the writing assignment clear.
“Mrs. Buckley, just what is a rough draft?”
“What is a rough draft? You have one in your hand; we’ve been working on it for over a week.”
“Oh.”
“What you need to do is take your rough draft with all its corrections and improvements and rewrite it before you leave.”
At the end of the period the new student hurried up to me and announced with pride, “I’ve done it. Here’s my smooth draft.”
She may have been confused about the wording, but her choice of words could help us understand the need for closures in our lives.
Do you ever feel your entire life is one big rough draft? Absolutely nothing has any closures. No gate to shut. No “Finished” sign to post. No smooth completed draft to turn in.
I write, knowing in another country, the sounds of bombs are exploding. Our country is at war. Times of adversity are leaving ugly marks on the drafts of so many peoples’ lives. War is no respecter of persons. It affects us all: mothers, fathers, lovers and children. I know this first hand. Because of a World War, I grew up never having an opportunity to say the word “Daddy.”
How can we become part of the answers to our prayers for peace and protection for those on the front lines and their families? Those front lines may include other areas of living other than war: business failure, family feuding, health issues or the functioning of our faith.
There is a book called the Bible that reminds me, “If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls down and has no one to help him up.”
May I paraphrase this to read, “If one gets bogged down in his rough draft, friends can help smooth it out? But pity the man who gets bogged down and has no one to smooth the way for him.”
What are some practical ways we can help smooth the rough times for those who lack closure in their lives? We can listen. Listen to their fears; listen to their questions; listen to their confusion. We can listen even though we have no pat answers.
Don’t judge. Don’t preach. Just listen. You don’t have to be an expert to listen.
Then haul off and do something unexpected. Invite them and their anxiety over for cup of coffee and a hug. Send a card. Write a personal note. Use the phone. Be a source of encouragement.
Next, go and find an eraser. Erase all hard feelings between you and your anxious friends. Keep in mind they may be more argumentative and hard to get along with because of their frustration and helplessness.
On one hand, getting involved in a cause you think is noble might lead to a protest march or a rally to show support. On the other hand, getting involved with the hurts of those around you on a one-to-one basis may cost even more.
Dare we think of someone right now who is experiencing a bad time? Let them know you care about their rough draft days. This might enable you to turn in a smooth draft of caring. I think you would receive an "A" on your paper for sure. Class dismissed.
