Something To Think About...

When I started this blog, my intentions were to share a funny moment from my teaching career.  Unfortunately, the events in Newtown, CT brought me to a place of fear and sadness.  This horrific tragedy made me think about the kids in my class, my own child, and children in other parts of the world.  We live in a very dangerous and sick society.  It's a shame these babies have to be brought up in such a world.  I cannot fathom dropping my child at school, assuming that I will be picking him/her up at 3:00 pm, and getting a phone call about a shooting at his/her school!  If there is anywhere that should be a safe haven for a child it should be a school.  Our children are already robbed of their innocence and youth, and now a place that should always be safe is being ripped out of their reach.

This brings me to a conversation one of the children in my class had with me.  In Science class, we have been observing the phases of the Moon.  The children are supposed to go outside and observe the nighttime sky.  I didn't realize how excited they were about watching the Moon go through its different phases and actually knowing some of the terminology.  This is one of those moments I adore in teaching.  It keeps me from throwing my hands up and finding a position in Corporate America.  While we were talking about the phases of the Moon, one of the kids in my class told me he was having difficulty completing the log.  I asked him why and he told me that his mother would not let him go outside.  He had to try to make his observations from inside the house.  I immediately knew why.  When he told me that his mother told him that it was too dangerous in their neighborhood for him to go outside and make his observations, it broke my heart.  This little boy has been on my mind all week and today's events just opened the flood gates.

This little boy has a thirst for knowledge.  He asks me questions that make me say, "I'll get back to you on that." or "Let's research that together."  He can't even go outside to grasp the entire concept of observing the night sky!  Our world has become so corrupt that we have completely robbed these children of their innocence.  We've taken the fun out of being a kid.  When are the adults going to wake up and realize that we have to give these kids a chance?  When will we finally give them a chance to enjoy life?  Those innocent babies had nothing to do with that mad man's issues!

I read something today..."Our children are the future.  Once you start taking them, we'll having nothing left."  I just wish we all could understand that.  Give them a chance and stop robbing them of a bright future.