You're Never too Young

As a teacher, I daily have cause for immense joy in my life, as frustrating as 32 kids in one room may sometimes be.  I have the privilege, each year, of getting to be a huge part of children's lives.  I get to share my knowledge with them and try to instruct them in such a way that not only are they excited to learn, but eager to learn as well.
It's not always easy.  In fact, some days it can seem downright impossible.  But I am one of the lucky few, I think, in that I feel I truly am working in a field that I love, in a job that I love, doing what I love to do.  Not everyone can say that, and I count my blessings that I can.
I know this isn't the usual fare we bring to the table on our blog, but I've got to admit that yesterday the morning was a bit trying, as one student was overheard making threatening statements about another student.  The teachers had to rally around this student and try to get to the heart of the problem, and to get the problem solved before it escalated into violence.
I think we managed, as the two kiddos were later seen on the playground talking peacefully, with apologies made on both sides and the attitude forgive and forget apparently in play.
It amazed me, how easily these two were able to overcome that sense of anger, and to move on.
As we had been talking to the student who had made the threatening remarks, my fellow teacher told him that we were outside talking with him because we needed to resolve the issue, but also because he was worth our time.  He had value.  He was worth more than this fight, and more than his denial of it.  We talked about his character, and how his actions help define who he is, not his home life, or his family's issues, but his actions.  And it struck me, as it sometimes does, how scary a place our world can be.  How unpredictable.  We so often, as adults, take things for granted, and then I think about what some of my students face at home, day in and day out, and it is heart breaking.  It is heart breaking to have to convince a ten year old that he has value and worth and that he can rise to the challenge of becoming a person of good character, to grow into that with good decisions and good actions.  It was such an important point for him to understand, that we define who we are to be, by how we act and by how we react to the world around us.

image via

So I thought this quote was pretty perfect for the little guy, and I will leave you with that deep thought by Jung, and not Jack Handy (sorry- my age just peeked through; that's an old SNL reference that I couldn't help but making).
Anyway, I hope your week is going well.  I, for one, am thrilled that it is Wednesday.  We have our first student council meeting this afternoon, and I am excited to get the ball rolling for this school year!

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