I am only one

I am only one,
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
       - Edward Everett Hale     
I am only one but I am at the age where I can not stand back any longer when I know that things are wrong. I am secure enough in my own being if I have to make people angry or have people disagree with me then be it. I am also at the age or maturity level when I realize it is not about me. I am only one but I can not stand by or flow with the majority because it is easy. In the last week I have closely followed the news in Egypt. It does my heart good to know that there are still people brave enough to join together for change. This morning before I left for school, I felt the presence of God and gave him thanks. Thanks for giving me courage to stand alone in the last few months in a battle I had to take on. A battle that is not only for me but for others. Knowledge forces us to accept change even if we really don't want to at times. The knowledge of how children learn, learning disabilities, emotional and mental disabilities has increased astronomically in my 30 years of teaching. The need for acceptance of all people and children, especially, has been brought to our attention in recent years. We know more about many things than we did thirty years ago when I started my career. We can no longer as educators use 20 year old plans or accept the views that we had years ago on learning, learning disabilities, and mental health. We have to utilize the information and help that are available to our students or children now. I told a colleague tonight that I feel like we are ready to step into a new educational arena. We are no longer just teachers, but need to have the ability to look at children and recognize the symptoms or characteristics for physical, intellectual, emotional, or mental disabilities. This didn't use to be part of our job, but it is know. I see many of my colleagues struggling with these issues. It is difficult. Many of us were at the very threshold of special education. It is a new world every day, but that doesn't mean that it isn't a real world or a world that, even though it is changing, is not going to continue to be here for a long time. I have found myself learning on my own about the disabilities and conditions that my students bring into the door with them. Some feel that if a student isn't "normal" they have no place in the regular classroom. Who, of us, can stand up and say I am perfect. I can't. I am one of these students. We can no longer assume that we can order a child to do something and that if they really wanted to, they could or would do it. I think many adults are beginning to realize that if they were in school now, they too would have a label. There are many of us. We are not going away and we are not going to be shoved down the hall or locked away. So this morning, as I thought about, why as only one, do I take on these battles? That is when I felt God's presence, as if to say ........"Debra, I will give you the strength and courage, if you will defend them, and yourself." And then he gave me a beautiful morning drive on the river road, a glorious sunny morning, blue sky, and trees sparkling with ice crystals. We can not continue to discriminate or play favorites. None of us are perfect, many of us are flawed. We know better now and we have to do better. Even if that means starting with just me because I will not refuse to do something that I can.