A Glimpse of Compassion in Room 114

Posted in Students on Apr 14, 2010 - 08:27 PM

In my Waldorf grade school, compassion and inspiration were the norm, which was a beautiful thing. However, in my current public high school it is much harder to come by, which is something I dearly miss about my old schooling. Words like "stupid" and "retarded" are thrown around like they mean nothing and like they aren't hurtful. However, every once in a while you can truly see the heart of the student body, and that is precisely what inspires me to write about this.

I never intended to take a band class, but I had heard the teacher was awesome and well loved. So I decided to do it. I play percussion, so I don't always have much to do, but it's great fun just to sit and watch the teacher interacting with the kids, making them laugh and smile, all the time creating great music. It's pretty fantastic. Therefore I had never expected him to deliver the news one rainy Monday morning that he would be leaving the school.

He told everyone that he had some announcements. He went on to tell us about jazz band, a concert in May, and some other events. Then he stopped, his jolly smile sliding off his face. Almost instantly, his eyes began to fill with tears. No one moved. No one talked. You could have heard a pin drop.

"I'm okay," he said. "Give me a moment here, just talk amongst yourselves." He tried to smile and didn't succeed. No one breathed a word. We just watched. It was an awkward minute as our teacher regained composure and began to speak again. Quietly now.

"I have to tell you all, that this is a decision was not taken on easily. It is one that I have lost sleep over for the last two weeks." He stopped again, wiping his eyes. The whole room seemed to lean in ever closer hanging on his every word.

"But I have to tell you that I have been offered a job in Pennsylvania, and I have decided to take it."

No one moved. No one it seemed, was even breathing. Shocked, the students just sat in their chairs and stared. The student teacher in the room said, "Congratulations!” and began to clap. No one joined her.

He was crying now. It was a sad sight. Then from the silence a young man from the back stood up and began to make his way down the risers with the words, "Group hug!" It didn't take more than thirty seconds for all thirty of the kids to gather at the front of the large room and embrace each other. They joined in crying.

I, who had only known the teacher for a few short weeks, felt slightly awkward joining in, so instead I just enjoyed the scene, feeling sad for the loss of such a loved teacher.

The only tears I have seen at my high school so far have been shed over drama, by kids having a hard time with life, or family or friends. Usually when kids in my school express themselves, they say things that they think their peers will agree with, like how much they hate school and how much they hate the teachers, and how they hate each other. I was so happy to see this little glimpse of love for a teacher in band class on that rainy Monday morning. Through happiness, through inspiration, this man had touched the lives of all these kids, and they were open about how much he meant to them. This gave me new faith in my new school. This experience truly touched me.

Tags for this entry:
learning, leadership, compassion, love, happiness, safe space

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