Friday Focus - November 23 (not really Friday)

I don't know if you realize it, but you play such an important role in your students' lives.  You are nearly as important to your students as are their own mothers and fathers...some of you may be their only adult role model.  Each day, you reach out your hand to our students to help them and to "make things clear."  Whether you are teaching a lesson about the scientific method, fractions, synonyms, history, or life in general, the hand you reach out to your studnets each day will be remembered long after it is extended.  Many of you have probably already heard of or read the story below, and I know it's a little bit sappy, but I wanted to share it again as an expression of thanks for all that you, as teachers, do to help our students.

Thanksgiving Day was near.  The first grade teacher gave her class a fun assignment--to draw a picture of something for which they were thankful.  Most of the class might be considered economically disadvantaged, but still many would celebrate the holiday with turkey and other traditional goodies of the season. These, the teacher thought, would be the subjects of most of her student's art.  And they were.

But Douglas made a different kind of picture.  Douglas was a different kind of boy.  He was the teacher's true child of misery, frail, and unhappy. As other children played at recess, Douglas was likely to stand close by her side.  One could only guess at the pain Douglas felt behind those sad eyes.  Yes, his picture was different. when asked to draw a picture of something for which he was thankful, he drew a hand.  Nothing else.  Just an empty hand.

His abstract image captured the imagination of his peers.  Whose hand could it be?  One chils guessed it was the hand of a farmer, because farmers raise turkeys.  Another suggested a police officer, because the police protect and care for people.  Still others guessed it was the hand of God, for God feeds us.  And so the discussion went--until the teacher almost forgot the young artist himself.  When the children had gone on to other assignments, she paused at Douglas' desk, bent down, and asked him whose had it was.  The little boy looked away and murmered, "It's yours, teacher."

She recalled the times she had taken his hand and walked with him here or there, as she had the other students.  How often had she said, "Take my hand, Douglas, we'll go outside." Or, "Let me show you how to hold your pencil." Or, "Let's do this together."  Douglas was most thankful for his teacher's hand. Brushing aside a tear, she went on with her work. 

Thank you for reaching out your hand each day to our kids at Dodgeland.  While we have many students from very supportive homes with loving mothers and fathers, we also have our share of "Douglasses." Your hand means a great deal to both.  So often, when I visit your classrooms, I witness "first hand" the power of your hands, as students soak in yoru wisdom, your warmth, your passion.  Many of our students express their appreciation immediately through their engagement, their quality work, and by returning your smiles with their own.  Others are less obviously responding to the hand you tirelessly extend; yet they, too are storing away these moments and wil remember you and your steady hand long after they have left the elementary. Thank you for teaching with passion for our students each and every day.