I’m not sure if this would be fitting in every classroom, but in mine it was.
Finally, the question I worried about most came up: why did the terrorists attack?
Since then, my students and the rest of our community have tried to figure out what to do with ourselves.
The novel we’re reading as a class fits in perfectly, and it’s solely because these children are looking for an explanation.
The students at my school are so lucky that they are constantly faced with those who are different from them.
I was slightly annoyed earlier this year when I recieved my class list, because I have a heavily Italian group of students- 11 out of 18. But that’s a very privileged annoyance, and speaks to who our school is- a big draw of our school is that it’s a very international community. But even with 11 out of 18 being from the same country, these kids are friends with people from all over the world. Their best friends speak another language at home than they do, eat food that’s totally different, have traditions that are unlike their own. Last year, the ‘cool’ thing for my Italian boys was to eat kimchi, a Korean dish that they’d tried at one of their friends houses, and that they’d beg their moms or nannies to make. My boy from Iran has become very popular in class because though he knows only a teeny bit of English now, the kids have realized that he is hilarious and sweet, and they love him and work to communicate despite the language barrier. Being different is the norm, and is valued. If you can grow up not only tolerating differences, but with a curiosity and appreciation for them, a desire to know about them, I can only imagine what this looks like in adulthood and when moving forward in changing the world.
Anyways, I’m going to end with a note I found on one of my girl’s desks the other day. Try and read all of those tiny bits, because it’s a letter to the Earth and is beyond beautiful.
Jenny P says
Such a lovely post Jesye demonstrating the power of providing children with a place where they feel free to say as much, or as little, as they want without judgement. And the wonderful truths that literature offers. Great post and what a wonderful teacher you are to provide such a safe caring environment for your very fortunate students.
Jesye Streisel says
Thank you Jenny, and sorry for the late response! These kids are really unbelievable and I feel so lucky to get to teach them!