by Donna McCaw
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I
would have talked less and listened more.
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I
would have invited students to share their questions and
their innate enthusiasm for the unknown, rather than my stayed
attempt at following a manual.
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I
would have eaten the popcorn on days when the class didn't seem
to deserve it, because maybe those were the days when they NEEDED
it the most.
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Why
does everything have to be connected to rewards and punishments
– why can't things sometimes-just be?
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I
would have taken the time to listen to a parent ramble about her
problems, remembering that I don’t have to have the answers,
only the ears, and accepting that I myself am not perfect in life,
parenting, listening, disciplining.
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I
would never have insisted the shades be pulled down to keep the
distractions of the day – outside so that all eyes would be
on me - inside
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I
would have let the bunny out of its cage, to roam freely through
the room, touching, sniffing, being a member of the scholarly group
that I led.
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Looking
at the world through the eyes of others – even animals –
to get a genuine perspective upon how insignificant I really am. |
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I
would have cried and laughed less while watching television and
more while watching life.
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I
would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the
earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for
the day.
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I
would have cared less about memorizing useless facts, names in the
top right hand corner,
assignments turned in on time and more about learning what good questions were, being proud of the quality of their work, and establishing priorities. |
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I
would have openly lived my emotions of fear, sadness, and humility.
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I
would have pretended less that I “know” what I “know”
and admitted with greater frequency, "You know what, I don't
know the answer to that."
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Rather
than picking up a red ink pen, I would pick up an orange, green,
purple, or chartreuse colored marker or crayon and I would celebrate
the correctness of each answer, rather than the disappointment of
an incorrect one.
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I
would cover less, teach more.
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I
would join hands and hearts and seek to find the uniqueness in each
of my students.
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I
would laugh--a lot ..from the deepest part of who I am --I would
laugh
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I
would never treat a child in any manner that I would not want to
be treated.
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I
would remember that they truly carry around their hearts a sign
that says, "under construction." Each morning I would
remember to hang my sign around my neck, reminding myself and my
students that I am not finished yet, either.
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When
my students need me to be caring first and rule-oriented second,
I would look into their eyes and hearts and determine the course
of events that best met their needs; for no rule book can effectively
do that and without that -- what need is there for me?
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I
would set the bar high enough that when they jumped the bar, they
would know that they had truly accomplished something, not just
anything, or nothing, for that is how self-esteem is built, by doing
something that I didn't think I could do.
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like
learning from a child
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teaching
myself something new everyday
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living
life one precious moment at a time!
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Wrote August
1, 2000