My principal is great. He's relaxed with his style of supervising yet provides a lot of constructive criticism for me to improve and grow as a teacher. When we first met he said something that was interesting but didn't really hit me until he said it again today:
"Parents are sending the best part of themselves to you everyday."
I thought about this in the obvious way: I love my kids. They are hilarious and odd and love to dance and they are mine 40 hours a week. I love their smiles, their hugs, their frowns, their tattling, their excitement over silly little things and their love of one another without allowing socioeconomics or status to get in the way (like some adults do).
But I thought more in depth about this idea that if each set of parents sent the best parts of themselves to school every day; shouldn't each generation be better than the last?
Just a thought I was wondering.
In my life, I think of the best parts of my parents: My father's corny jokes; love of trivia; methodical and deliberate moments of wisdom; incredible patience and wait time; strength; lack of fear to be himself and love of music. My mother's excitement over silly little things; dedication to people, to family, to love; unfiltered verbal diarrhea; dedication to her faith; acceptance of all and love of getting a mission accomplished (they, clearly, have more parts that are amazing, but these stand out to me in the moment).
Now, I think of myself...am I truly the best part of them? Do I do their best qualities justice? When I went to college or the east coast to brave the independent world on my own, did they believe they were unleashing the best parts of themselves into the world?
I know this may appear as useless ramble but it's just a thought I've been pondering. If we all strive to be the best parts of our parents, then I guess it leaves the next generation no choice but to be better than ours...what a beautiful world that could be.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Praying for Change
I am not prefacing this one with something saying, "well, I'm not usually political" or "I hate to rant" because in this instance, saying nothing has gotten me no where so I feel it is important to share my opinion on this issue.
I know the Constitution has an amendment called the second amendment so I know it's law and someone's "right" to bear arms. BUT, in light of the craziness in our country with people shooting up movie theaters, schools, public (highly crowded) places and, now, shopping malls (http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/2012/12/clackamas_town_center_shooting.html); I am compelled to speak up.
You have a right to protect yourself and to go hunting for deer or rabbits or elk or bison but in these cases, do you really need a gun that can rapid fire off more than 30 bullets? I mean, in reality, do you really need a gun that can rapid fire off more than 3 bullets? If there's an intruder, one or two shots will do it...you don't need to fill 'em with 30 rounds of lead.
Why are these kinds of weapons available to your average Joe who can get a basic pistol license can get a gun (in WA state)? In what world do we need these?
I guess it's silly and naive of me to think that maybe we should peel it back another layer and say, why can't people just stop and think about the choices they make? Stop and use your words instead of a gun...it's what I'm trying to drill home into 15 Kindergarteners minds. It's just difficult to be teaching lessons about kindness and tolerance and saying the words, "you hurt me" or "I'm sorry" when our society continues to practice the contrary.
I'm just sad...very sad that people feel the need to put on ski masks/hockey masks and round after round of ammo to shoot up and damage lives. But I can't blame the individual; I have to also put blame on those people and laws allowing semi-automatic and automatic guns to be purchased by anyone. We don't need high power guns, we just don't and I am still scratching my head as to why they are available to us. Peace and love to all and prayers for change.
I know the Constitution has an amendment called the second amendment so I know it's law and someone's "right" to bear arms. BUT, in light of the craziness in our country with people shooting up movie theaters, schools, public (highly crowded) places and, now, shopping malls (http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/2012/12/clackamas_town_center_shooting.html); I am compelled to speak up.
You have a right to protect yourself and to go hunting for deer or rabbits or elk or bison but in these cases, do you really need a gun that can rapid fire off more than 30 bullets? I mean, in reality, do you really need a gun that can rapid fire off more than 3 bullets? If there's an intruder, one or two shots will do it...you don't need to fill 'em with 30 rounds of lead.
Why are these kinds of weapons available to your average Joe who can get a basic pistol license can get a gun (in WA state)? In what world do we need these?
I guess it's silly and naive of me to think that maybe we should peel it back another layer and say, why can't people just stop and think about the choices they make? Stop and use your words instead of a gun...it's what I'm trying to drill home into 15 Kindergarteners minds. It's just difficult to be teaching lessons about kindness and tolerance and saying the words, "you hurt me" or "I'm sorry" when our society continues to practice the contrary.
I'm just sad...very sad that people feel the need to put on ski masks/hockey masks and round after round of ammo to shoot up and damage lives. But I can't blame the individual; I have to also put blame on those people and laws allowing semi-automatic and automatic guns to be purchased by anyone. We don't need high power guns, we just don't and I am still scratching my head as to why they are available to us. Peace and love to all and prayers for change.
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