A few years ago, a woman I barely know (whose children are
not a part of our local public school system) asked me nonchalantly if our high school is “as HORRIBLE as I’ve
heard”.
Ok, see I have a loyalty bone that is connected directly to
whatever part of my brain creates the anger monster, so I did not respond too
well in the moment. I mean, hey, that’s my kids’ school! It felt like a
question born out of ignorance, privilege and idealism. I wish I had had the wherewithal
at that moment to take a breath and answer more thoughtfully, because here is
what I would like to say if she were to ask me that question today:
Of course our school has problems, just as every school,
business, organization and family, for that matter, has problems. Think about
it: Our school is an ever-changing
organism composed of administration and teachers struggling to reach and teach
the personalities of several thousand young human beings all at once. Wild and
wondering human beings whose frontal lobes are not yet fully formed. Human
beings with a million different personalities and bents and backgrounds and
learning styles and combinations thereof.
These educators are dealing with adult-sized
children who are all trying to figure life out in a thousand different ways,
and most of them have no clue how vital this education will be to improving
their futures. Nevermind that some of them walk into the school setting out of
an unimaginably painful home life, mounting a desperate (unrecognized) search
for meaning and purpose and love.
So, yeah, I’m sure sometimes that can get a little sticky
and make a day “horrible” at our high school.
However, what I have myself witnessed in this “horrible” environment
might also just blow your mind. Teachers often giving up their evenings to come
watch my kids (“their kids”) in a loooong play or musical. And they are genuinely
proud of them. Paraprofessionals forming strong bonds with kids and their families
to support them even outside the school environment. Dedicated admin, directors,
coaches all strategizing programs to best fit the community struggles these
future world-builders, their students, are facing. Teachers reaching into their
own often-shallow pockets to provide necessary tools for a young life whose
potential has not yet been self-actualized. They are giving their time, energy
and heart to believe in our kids.
Recently, I have heard from teachers who are brokenhearted at
this sudden disconnect with their classes. They just miss them. I hear teachers
tell how they sometimes find themselves in tears because they can’t seem to get
some of their students, the ones who need connection the most, to connect
through the online methods and continue their education during this difficult
season. And it’s not because these teachers are worried about a bad score on a standardized
test stealing their job from them (Those tests have died a rightful death this year.
Thank you, Lord!). It’s because they worry that next year, when things do
return to some sort of normal procedure, these precious souls will find
themselves even further behind in their learning and will want to give up.
Yes, community is a messy and sometimes “horrible” thing, I
guess. Sometimes it’s downright terrifying. And it is a constant, dizzying process
to try and make things better. But let’s recognize what kind of fight our
educators go up against every day. I’m so thankful God put it in the hearts of
a select few of His creations to desire this battle. We, as a society,
need them more than we know.
At the end of the day, these
teachers are human, just like you, with worries and families and struggles and
weaknesses. And, no, we won’t always agree on tactics, practices and plans, but
I can tell you that they are doing their best to build something beautiful in
their classrooms and in relationship with these kids and in our collective future.
I’m glad to stand close by and cheer them on.
