I'm not sure why but I remember more about second grade than many of the other, even later years, of my education. Some times I think that maybe the moral fiber of my very being was developed that year. Two things stand out in my mind. One, at Christmas time a little girl in my class said she wasn't getting anything for Christmas. I worried about that the rest of the entire school day. I came home that evening and told my Mom and insisted we buy a doll for the little girl in my class, so she had something for Christmas morning. My Mom bought a doll and and gave it to my teacher to see that the little girl received it in time for Christmas. I, at that time in my young life. realized that it isn't fun being a poor kid. I also realized it is also not their fault. I am still amazed that many blessed and educated adults still do not "get" something that I learned in second grade. I, everyday, see poor kids being discriminated against, pushed aside, treated like left overs. It saddens me that those that are blessed would take from those, who already have so little. I wasn't poor but I certainly wasn't an affluent child. I grew up in what most people would consider a poor working class community. Guess what? As kids we didn't know it. We were all pretty much in the same boat, some had a little more, some a little less but we all looked out for each other and still do. I could call any of my classmates 34 years later and they would do anything for me, as I would do for them. I don't see this in schools I teach in now where people build and support a caste system based on parents income. The second major thing that stands out in my mind is when one of my classmates little sister was killed by a train. I can still see him standing at our classroom door crying as he was told about the death of his little sister. They were a family, like many families in our town that didn't have a great deal financially, but it didn't make that little girl's death any less significant or any easier to grieve if she had been the President's daughter. I learned in second grade being human is about being human. It doesn't matter if you are rich or poor, young or old, black or white. Feelings, emotions, fortune and misfortune do not judge like may of us do. The little girl's grave is in the graveyard near my home. I go there to ground myself and to remind myself about how my life changed in second grade.
How lucky are the kids in your care. Perhaps you can see to it that their life changes in 4th grade and they will remember the life lessons learned from you forever!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Donna! You do have the ability to change their lives - in 4th grade - and you do it. I am grateful for teachers like you and Donna who really, truly CARE how the kids turn out. My kids are so lucky to have had both of you.
ReplyDeleteTouching post Debra! :)
When we left the burg, we moved to an upper middle class neighborhood on Cape Cod. We did not have as much as most of the people who lived there and goodness, the crap that I had to take from those kids was unreal. I felt like a piece of poo. It was awful. I was very glad when we moved. The next town we lived in was still upper middle class, just with a lot less attitude. I was on a level playing field there.
ReplyDeleteWe are poor, at least financially. Life has dealt us some unfortunate crap in the last few years and all we can do is focus on what is important, and that is each other. I hope that I can raise M to be tolerant. I hope that she can take people for what they are and NOT what they have.
Great post.. :)