Yesterday, I was at a gathering where the meditation provided below was shared. It is about a local school district, Muskegon Heights, where many at the gathering volunteer their time and talents as a part of the Coalition for Community Development [CCD]. About a year ago, members of the CCD helped to open on closed elementary school library in the district (read about it here). They continue to work to re-open libraries in the district. Anyone who can help is encouraged to contact Kathleen Kleaveland by email at kmdkk5@hotmail.com. Thank you in advance for your support.
I Went to School
by Cindy Anderson
I went to school.
It was Tuesday.
Just a few miles away.
It looked like every school
I’ve ever seen except for the litter scattered on the ground across the street
--mostly beer bottles, cigarette packs and fast food wrappers.
I opened the door of the
school and smiled. It smelled like every
school I’ve ever smelled; hints of floor polish, wet mittens, washed hands and
a slight undertone of bananas.
It looked like every school I
have ever seen; low drinking fountains, names on lockers, teacher made bulletin
boards of dancing letters, banners on the walls encouraging team work and good
behavior-- except this school did not have
an art room,
a music room,
a gym
or a library.
I checked in at the
office.
The secretary was busy but
welcoming, just like every secretary of every school I’ve ever entered.
She graciously directed me to
the appropriate classroom and wished me a good day.
With excitement, I went to the
kindergarten classroom, and met my first student.
Just like every classroom I’ve
entered in my life, the children were busy working-- except they were not
working in centers.
They were not moving about
the room.
They couldn’t move about the room.
There were 36 students in the
kindergarten classroom.
They were sitting very still
in their tiny desks pushed closely together.
There was a palpable feeling
of pent-up energy.
The beleaguered teacher
smiled and introduced me to my student.
My student and I walked to
our work spot down the hall.
His eyes sparkled and his
energy pulsed.
He told me about his family
He wrote his name
He listened intently to a
story I read.
He held my hand as we walked
back to his class.
He extracted a promise that I
would come again.
I was in love.
I met my second student.
Her skin was glowing.
She had 48 barrettes in her
braids—butterflies.
She skipped when she walked
and she giggled when she talked.
She drew a picture of her
family.
She sang her ABCs
She listened intently as I
read her a story.
She asked me to come back.
I was in love.
I met my third student.
Her dimples bounced as the
teacher called her name.
She told me all about her
family.
She recited her ABCs .
She read her favorite words.
She listened intently as I
read her a story.
She asked what day I was
coming back.
I was in love.
I met my fourth student.
He had braids all over his
head and his nose was running a little.
He walked slowly to our spot.
He didn’t want to talk about
his family
He didn’t say his ABC’s
He didn’t write his name.
He listened intently to the
story about a hippopotamus.
He asked questions about it.
We looked up hippos on my
Ipad.
He picked up a piece of paper
and drew a perfectly proportioned hippopotamus.
He did not ask when I was
coming back.
He stayed outside his room
for a long time before reentered.
I was in love.
I went to school.
Every week for the next
thirty weeks.
We celebrated Halloween,
Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines Day and the onset of spring.
My students grew.
They told me more about their
families.
They asked questions about my
family
I knew when their dads had
birthdays,
When their moms got new jobs,
When they visited their
grandmas,
When their cousins came to
play.
They began reading stories to
me.
They beat me at games.
They told me Tuesday was
their favorite day.
I was in love.
I was also sad.
The children never had gym.
They never had art.
They never had music.
I was sad and angry that we disadvantage
this group of children because we do not give them the opportunities to develop
as whole children.
But they DID get a library.
An amazing group of volunteers created a library within the
school..
The children had access to
books and were thrilled.
The last day was hard.
I was sad.
I told them I would be back
next year.
I went to school.
I went to school because
children are my passion.
I went to school because I
believe all kids are important.
I went to school because I
believe kids do best when they feel loved.
I went to school because I
wanted to make a difference.
I went to school because I
wanted to teach.
I went to school and I learned.
I encourage you to
go to school
Or go wherever you have a
passion
The prison
The shelter
The political office
The wetland
The nursing home.
Save the seals
Save a species
Build a library
Build a relationship
Build a more humane world.
You will make a difference
You will learn
You will be glad
You will be thankful.
I am
I am forever glad
I am forever thankful
I went to school.
wonderful!
ReplyDelete