Throughout my childhood I grew up attending the same public school (starting in kindergarten) as my older brother did, and my dad did before him, and my grandfather before him. This was common in the small town that I grew up in and I enjoyed school. I got good grades, played on tons of athletic teams (I was quite the tomboy), and even joined the choir. I had lots of friends and good relationships with most my teachers all the way through. However, during my junior year a momunmental moment occured which would change my family dynasty in this town forever. My dad, who had been the head soccer coach at the High School in my town for over 15 years was fired. This was a big deal because our towns pride was soccer, and my dad. My friends and I had all grown up playing for him and were devastated.
This is the part of the story where I wish I could explain how my great, influential teachers reached out and helped me through this hard time, but that didn't happen. Whether they didn't know what to say or didn't want to get that personal with me, I'll never know, but what I do know is that is what made my parents decide to switch my two youngest sisters into a private school across town. They hoped this school would hold more personable teachers who would be their for their kids outside of the classroom.
Well, sure enough the switch proved successful and this new school first introduced my family of teachers and students to the concept of "Four for Forty." This is an idea my sisters school has in which the children give their all in the classroom, on the stage or the athletic field to their coaches, directors and teachers for four years and the staff promises to give them their all for the next forty. They promise to guide them in college if they ever have questions about work load or boy problems. They promise to help them in any way they can form professional connnections to be successful after college. And they promise to make the same promise to those former students children down the road.
I love this idea because it really captures everything I think teaching is about. It's about giving back to the students and their families and future families. It's about influencing their lives permanently, not for a semester or a year. And it's more personal than just a classroom interaction. I do love my almamater and the things I learned there but I must say, I am most impressed by my sisters new school and think it's a great fit!
http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar03/vol60/num06/Moral-Teachers,-Moral-Students.aspx
Kellie, I am sorry you had to experience that and that your teachers didn't reach out to help you. In the long run though it seemed to really workout for your sisters! I have never heard this saying before but I think it is a really neat concept. I think teachers should be there for you even after you graduate. I know I am still friends with some of my favorite teachers who really helped shape my life and I know if I needed them now for anything they would be there to help me. Teaching is such an awesome opportunity to give back to your community by helping children. You just never know what child you are going to connect to and possible change their life for the better just because you were there for them when no one else was.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! This motto communicates a deep commitment to the student and their life, in addition to the classroom. Some teachers are bad and don't care, and it's unfortunate. But that motto is proof that most teachers take their job, their role in society very seriously and don't believe that class ends at 3 o clock or whatever.
ReplyDeleteThe concept introduced at your sisters school is such an awesome idea! Even though you were unfortunate to have to learn what it was like to have teachers who did not care, you have been able to see teachers who care, even if just through your sisters. I think the motto, "Four to Forty," simply encompasses exactly what a powerful teacher is. I think of my teachers of the past and even though some of them never voiced anything similar to "four to forty," it is clear that those teachers who impacted me at a young age are teachers I currently keep in touch with. I believe it's even possible to never realize the impact of certain teachers until you see them after grade school and high school and they are still there to give advice and help you along the path of life.
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