I’m fairly certain that schools will feel the effect of this pandemic for long after all restrictions are removed. As an educator for the last 34 years and a father of a few, I’ve seen a lot of children pass through my life, watched them grow and find themselves as adults. It’s a beautiful, not always smooth, journey. What I have never seen is the crisis that is going on in our world today. I can’t help but think it may very well have some lasting implications that we need to put on the front burner.
My first concern is that we develop in our children a fear of those not in their immediate circle. That somehow the lesson being taught in this time of social isolation and keeping our distance from those not directly in our home is that this becomes a more fearful attitude our kids bring into their lives. As the world opens up, I can’t help but think that children might assume a more skeptical view of those they don’t know. Rather than viewing others as a source of newness and learning, they may view them as a threat. Can you live your best life viewing everything that enters your world that is unfamiliar as a threat? I think that makes us closed to a lot of learning and growth.
While I’m not personally a real hugger, I like that a lot of people are. I love the warm sense of welcome I get when I meet a new person who is a hugger and they share their warmth. It breaks down all barriers right away and allows for authentic relationship to start. I think there is a lot of value in a hug. Think about the typical primary classroom, how many hugs are given out in a single day? Hundreds! Are we going to deter that in the next few months and if we do, what are the ramifications on these littles as they develop. There’s a lot of science behind the value of a hug. Are we willing to raise a colder, less affectionate generation and if we are, what are the ramifications on society?
Finally, even as we have grown as a more tolerant people, are we at the point we are embracing a whole new racism? By being untrusting of those around us, closing our borders and discouraging travel, are we identifying anyone not in our community as a threat and therefore someone to be feared? If that is the new norm, we can’t help but slide back into a more hateful state of mind. One we’ve been trying to change for the last hundred years or more. Have we just backed up the equal rights movement that so many worked so hard to develop?
Am I over thinking this? Will the results of this COVID crisis be the same as the Spanish Flu years ago? Will we forget the pain and fear and simply open our hearts and minds back up to the love of humanity? Will we be drawn out of the frontal lobe, thinking mainly of our own survival, and embrace the wonder of others?
That’ll depend a whole lot on how we message this crisis to our children both during and after its time. Teachers will have a whole lot to say about that. There is an old saying that I like a lot “If the principal sneezes, the school catches a cold.” How a leader acts, affects those in their sphere of influence. The same happens in a classroom – how a teacher ACTS affects the class far more than what a teacher says. So, coach your class that people are works of art to be valued. All humanity is a gift from God and should be appreciated and honored as such. When things get opened up and we see no more restrictions, encourage reaching out to each other. Huggers, your time to shine will be upon you. Hug the love and acceptance back into our world.
Finally, never accept the lessening of one human over another. Do not accept racist, sexist or demeaning behavior from others. Don’t just say it in your classrooms, show it! Explore different cultures in your class, honor traditions from around the world, talk about the significant contributions new Canadians have brought to our country.
Educators are going to be a difference maker in how we come out of this crisis. That’s a good thing and the future couldn’t be in better hands.
Keep safe – make a difference!
Dave
Be First to Comment