Dear Teacher,
I wanted to take a moment and say thank you for laying your life on the line for our children. It would not be feasible for me to travel throughout the Buffalo Schools and drop apples on all your desks. Please allow my words to be like apples of appreciation for all you do for children.
Being a Teacher is the highest calling of humanity. As a Teacher, you have the most important job on the face of the earth; to bring out the potential in our children. The future success of the student is heavily dependent on your efforts. A Teacher is a Role Model under a microscope. The public puts pressure on you to solve all of the problems of society. I admire you Dear Teacher and I want to tell you why.
The early years of my education regarding Teachers were relatively easy. It was my job to be the class clown and disrupt as many of your classes as possible. The students were laughing when they could have been learning. Every day my friends and I plotted new ways to disrupt your classroom. When I was having a bad day, I brought my emotional baggage to throw at you. As a Teacher, you were my target. You were a member of the adult world that seemed to forever misunderstand me. We told jokes about you. We seemed to understand that bullying was wrong and yet we would bully you, Dear Teacher.
The classrooms where I went to school were relatively peaceful in comparison with the classrooms of today. Children receive unprecedented amounts of self destructive information via the Internet. Alcohol, drugs, pornography and gangs are all within easy reach for young people. They bring their destructive habits with them into the classroom. When I stand in a Buffalo School and I ask the class: "How many of you have had friends or relatives that died as a result of violence?" About 80% raise their hands. When I was in school, I didn't know anybody who died from violence. Children who are touched by violence become fearful and protective of their hearts, That fear often causes them to lash out at someone who wants to help them. A child who is a victim of abuse often becomes the abuser. A Teacher is often abused in the classroom.
I read a story a few years ago about wolves. When the pack gets hungry, they have a meeting and identify a member of the caribou herd that is young, disabled or elderly. They then identify one of their own members as the "Slasher." The slasher charges and takes a bite out of the caribou but doesn't kill it. The caribou goes back to the safety of the herd. The next day, the slasher charges again with another vicious attack. Again, the caribou returns to the safety of the herd. Eventually blood loss causes weakness and the caribou loses the will to live. Then the wolf pack closes in to kill the caribou and have their meal. Our children are like that caribou. They come to the safety of the classroom with you Dear Teacher. Then they go home to their neighborhood where the wolves are. An older sister is urging them to get pregnant like them so they can get out of school. The gang promises money, power and sex. A friend dies in a drive-by. A father is absent. A Mother is on drugs. Every day there is another slash until eventually they lose the will to go to school.
I admire you Dear Teacher for finding the strength to stand there day after day and still believing in the best for our children. I know that sometimes you feel like the caribou that is getting slashed. Persevere, there are better days ahead. Just believe that you are a highly esteemed member of an elite group of world changers called Teachers. When the classroom seems to get dark, remember that the sun rises everyday revealing a new day.
I wanted to take a moment and say thank you for laying your life on the line for our children. It would not be feasible for me to travel throughout the Buffalo Schools and drop apples on all your desks. Please allow my words to be like apples of appreciation for all you do for children.
Being a Teacher is the highest calling of humanity. As a Teacher, you have the most important job on the face of the earth; to bring out the potential in our children. The future success of the student is heavily dependent on your efforts. A Teacher is a Role Model under a microscope. The public puts pressure on you to solve all of the problems of society. I admire you Dear Teacher and I want to tell you why.
 |
| A Teacher is a candle of hope for a child. |
The early years of my education regarding Teachers were relatively easy. It was my job to be the class clown and disrupt as many of your classes as possible. The students were laughing when they could have been learning. Every day my friends and I plotted new ways to disrupt your classroom. When I was having a bad day, I brought my emotional baggage to throw at you. As a Teacher, you were my target. You were a member of the adult world that seemed to forever misunderstand me. We told jokes about you. We seemed to understand that bullying was wrong and yet we would bully you, Dear Teacher.
 |
| Laughing, listening and learning. Imagine this guy in your classroom! |
The classrooms where I went to school were relatively peaceful in comparison with the classrooms of today. Children receive unprecedented amounts of self destructive information via the Internet. Alcohol, drugs, pornography and gangs are all within easy reach for young people. They bring their destructive habits with them into the classroom. When I stand in a Buffalo School and I ask the class: "How many of you have had friends or relatives that died as a result of violence?" About 80% raise their hands. When I was in school, I didn't know anybody who died from violence. Children who are touched by violence become fearful and protective of their hearts, That fear often causes them to lash out at someone who wants to help them. A child who is a victim of abuse often becomes the abuser. A Teacher is often abused in the classroom.
 |
| A Teacher is a person of passionate compassion. |
I read a story a few years ago about wolves. When the pack gets hungry, they have a meeting and identify a member of the caribou herd that is young, disabled or elderly. They then identify one of their own members as the "Slasher." The slasher charges and takes a bite out of the caribou but doesn't kill it. The caribou goes back to the safety of the herd. The next day, the slasher charges again with another vicious attack. Again, the caribou returns to the safety of the herd. Eventually blood loss causes weakness and the caribou loses the will to live. Then the wolf pack closes in to kill the caribou and have their meal. Our children are like that caribou. They come to the safety of the classroom with you Dear Teacher. Then they go home to their neighborhood where the wolves are. An older sister is urging them to get pregnant like them so they can get out of school. The gang promises money, power and sex. A friend dies in a drive-by. A father is absent. A Mother is on drugs. Every day there is another slash until eventually they lose the will to go to school.
 |
| A Teacher helps young people climb the mountains of life. |
I admire you Dear Teacher for finding the strength to stand there day after day and still believing in the best for our children. I know that sometimes you feel like the caribou that is getting slashed. Persevere, there are better days ahead. Just believe that you are a highly esteemed member of an elite group of world changers called Teachers. When the classroom seems to get dark, remember that the sun rises everyday revealing a new day.
 |
| A Teacher provides a warm heart in a cold world. |
From my heart to your heart,
thank you Dear Teacher
for who you have been,
who you are and
who you will become
as a trusted role model
for our children.
Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
No comments:
Post a Comment