Today, I saw this article about a teacher whose assignment was not received as intended. The assignment was something like this: Write a cartoon in the style of "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" that features Europe's appeasement of Hitler. Evidently, the teacher had a My Little Pony in a Nazi uniform saluting over Europe to inspire the students. (You can check out the story here). Well, it did not sit well with some parents that their children were using swastikas and Spongebob Squarepants. The school apologized stating the assignment was designed with the standards in mind, but the cartoon aspect did not fit their approach to controversial subjects.
All that to say that sometimes we plan and get an unintended result. I'm sure that all the people in the news did not begin their lives to aspire to ruin the lives and freedoms of others. I'm sure they started out with hopes and dreams of becoming something amazing.
As I am teaching, I see the faces of students with hopes and dreams of their own. How can they remain on course until they reach their goals? How can they remain true to their intentions when they meet with success? What can I give them to ensure they stay the course rather than become derailed and news stories that make me want to avert my eyes?
The best I can hope to do is to instill values of hard work, kindness, friendship, diligence, honesty, generosity, responsibility, and integrity. I can teach them those values are more important than power, fame and fortune, and that there is nothing on the planet for which they should compromise what they know to be right and true.
I guess that is something that resonates with everyone this holiday season--you remember your childhood, your beginnings, your dreams and you reconnect. For me, every time I hear Gene Autry sing "Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer", I am transported to being 4 or 5 years old, listening to that song again and again in succession, and watching as one of my neighbors visited all of the kids' homes dressed as Santa Claus. I have many fond memories that travel through my mind when I hear that song.
Like Rudolph, everyone needs a light to guide them in the night of hard choices, of a need to be famous (or infamous), of the need to push down a weaker person, of a desire to be ahead of anyone else at any price. Students, parents, teachers, leaders all need to follow the light of truth, righteousness and justice. For me, the light is the Light of the World who came at Christmas. For another it might be the lights atop the Menorah signifying a miracle that happens when good people band together to do right. Others may find light elsewhere. Nonetheless, the singleness of doing right in all circumstances, and doing good toward others whether they can be of benefit you or not, needs to be instilled and to be practiced daily.
Whatever your holiday touchstone, I hope you are still on course. I hope your students find their course because of your influence.
Today's song is a nod to the journey we are taking with our students. You can sing along with my words below the video.
Students, be like a reindeer
With a very shiny nose
Whenever you think wrong thoughts
Look at where the light will go
Don't be like other reindeer
Lying cheating mean for gain
Those are the traits that ensure
You will never win life's game
On a foggy tempting eve
They might come to say
Student if you lose the light
We can make your goals in sight
You'll find those reindeer fooled you
As you find your goals destroyed
Student, stay true to the Light
You'll go down in history
First published December 12, 2017
Comments
Post a Comment