Teachers

Teacher.

It seems to me that this is a word that holds an energy, a resonance, a set of emotions that is very powerful for people all over the world. All of us, no matter where we live on Mother Earth have been students and by extension, we have all had teachers.

Today I think about and ponder a specific kind of teacher: the classroom teacher. For all of us who have learned inside the four walls of a classroom, we have (hopefully) memories of teachers who touched our lives, believed in us, stood by us when other teachers did not, challenged us intellectually and above all inspired us to be lifelong learners. They created activities that were motivating, read us great literature, took us on trips that we might otherwise have never experienced and believed in the medicine that is laughter. Those are the kinds of teachers I think about today.

But there is more.

Do you remember the one teacher (or more if you were very fortunate) who not only embodied all of the above, but seemed to understand you as a spiritual person, too? The teacher who had "that something" in her eyes that conveyed that you were special, unique, with your own set of needs that may differ from those around you? The teacher who was willing to bend, flex and rethink decisions, who sometimes challenged the rules in order to best meet the needs of kids? The one who understood that there is so much more to school than the four R's, and in fact might have argued that the real curriculum lay in his own character and that of his students? The teacher who seemed to understand the spiritual gravity of his or her job? Those are the teachers who are the walking guardians of our children. Having been a teacher myself, I am not sure if my students felt I gave them that experience or not. That is for them to decide. What I do know is that there is something sacred about being given the responsibility of holding the spirits of twenty children in your hands.

It's huge!

When I put my children on the school bus and wave goodbye, I hope and pray that the person on the other end receives them with love, joy and kindness. I hope that the teachers of my girls see the essence of their spirits and celebrate who they are, foibles and all. THAT is a teacher, in my opinion. Most anyone can teach the nuts and bolts of subject matter. But I know for sure that information is taken in, internalized, and processed far more effectively if the learning environment is one of acceptance, peace, co-operation, and structure with give. Creativity, ideation and invention flow most freely when teachers move off to the side and allow children to find their own path, their own way of communicating, their own way of being with the subject matter. This is not always easy, as teachers have curriculum that must be taught, different learning styles to consider, a wide spectrum of abilities for which to plan, and children who are happier than others to be there. There are parental requests, administration demands, and of course, these mere mortals might well have their own families, households, and hobbies too!!

But there is more.

I realize that this triad of home, school, student only works if each party is willing to uphold her side of the "relationship shape". And as a parent that includes me! It is my right to speak up when I don't agree with something happening in the classroom, but I must also speak up when I am in gratitude for things that are making a positive difference in the lives of my children. Teachers need this kind of feedback and we parents are in a wonderful position to give it. Parents expect a lot of teachers (myself included), and that is fine, but I also believe that we need to expect a lot of ourselves, too. We need to be involved in the school lives of our children, we need to ask questions, support projects, attend field trips and information nights. We can hopefully volunteer in a way that resonates. We need to show up!

So today, I am in deep gratitude for all of those teachers who consciously plan for their students, who speak and act with discernment, who understand that children make mistakes, that they learn best through kindness and discipline. I honour all teachers who have been up at night with a sick child and still report for duty with a smile on their faces and patience in their hearts. I send love to those teachers who are struggling, who may not be teaching the grade they really wanted, or who are dealing with a child who is proving to need a lot more of everything than the others. I honour you, I salute you, and I send you light.

And I promise to do my part, too!



With love and gratitude,

Christine
xo