Being There For Our Kids (11-27-06)

Okay, time for a little “back-to-the-future” action. Back, because it is time for me to write the column I had planned to write last week, before I remembered all for which I had to be thankful. To the future, because this column involves the future - the future of our children.

You see, the week before Thanksgiving, I had the principal perspective of two important events. First, John Reedy of Wakeeney came to speak to our students about the loss of his son to suicide. The following evening I was treated to my first taste of a Mrs. Potter production.

Now, you might be asking yourself how, in any way are these two seemingly disparate events connected. How does the somber reflections of a grieving father compare with the lilting melodies of a Broadway musical?

From my perspective, they both had a lot to do with the importance of positive relationships between adults and children. Mr. Reedy pleaded for young people to reach out before they would do something to harm themselves. There is help, he told the students, and there are people who care. The play, on the other hand, showed what can be accomplished when positive relationships between the young and not-so young take place. From the relationship between a director and her very talented cast, to the relationship between that cast and the audience, a successful play is the result of many successful relationships.

Let’s jump back in the past a little further. During the August staff meeting, I passed onto that staff what I had learned to be the key to effective education. Good teaching isn’t about having the best classroom management, or the best lesson plans, or the most engaging curriculum. The key, I said, is not technology, or whole learning, or any of the rainbow of educational buzzwords and bandwagons that cycle throughout profession. While all those things are important, none of them add up to anything without first establishing the most basic of human needs: the need to feel loved, the need to feel important because somebody cares, the need to feel included and part of something meaningful.

I have learned that the most effective action an educator, (or for that matter, any adult) can do for a young person is to establish a positive relationship. In order for kids to be able to learn from adults, they must feel that we care about them as people and as individuals. .

Now, let’s jump forward to the week before Thanksgiving, when I listened to John Reedy as he preached to the students that we care about you. Really, when you boil down everything he said, it comes down to that one message: we care about you. We, as adults, care about you, as youth, as students, as precious gifts upon whom we place all our hopes, dreams, and pride. He told them that if they were ever in need, that they must speak out, reach out, and ask for help. We care about you, and together we can work through any problem.

The following night, I sat and enjoyed Cinderella in our auditorium. I marveled at the costumes and sets and props. I marveled even more at the number of people who filled our auditorium. As I sat there in wonder, I thought about John’s words and his earnest message. He was right. When kids believe that we as adults care about them, incredible things become possible. Broadway comes to Hill City, Kansas.

Both John Reedy’s talk and our fall play illustrated the importance of us, as adults, being there for our kids. With this lesson from the past, it is back to us to help them create the brightest future imaginable.