MADE TO LOVE for children . They haven ’ t been taught how to handle the cards they ’ ve been dealt 5 ) Keep Your Word 6 ) TEACH 7 ) Students expect you to give up on them … # ProveThemWrong .
One thing is for sure , I am super-duper glad the Chicago Public School System decided to adapt the Restorative Justice Practice which ultimately gives us the opportunity to restore disruptive behavior ( fighting , walking out of class , profanity , walking off school grounds , class disruption , running in the hallway and defacing school property ) and channeling it constructively and positively . As an alternative to detentions , I like to get hands-on with my students and we create urban comic books , vision boards , write papers and read books on black / brown literature . I believe it ’ s important as Educators that we get deep into their world because essentially that is the only way to understand them . In some cases , where I may have an In-School Suspension , I make them read and recite Countee Cullen ’ s “ Hey Black Child ” poem and re-create their own version of what it means to be a Black Child in their world . Call it what you want , # ThirstyFirstYearEducator or whatever floats your boat , but when I have an exchange with my students they understand that BEING GREAT IS A REQUIREMENT , NOT AN OPTION .
We fail our children by only teaching them what ’ s in the textbook . Life is happening daily around us and is it our job to teach our children to be aware always , all ways .
The reality is , life is happening to us all , but it ’ s in our response and reaction that shows our children “ If Ms ./ Mr . ( insert your name ) got through that I know I can get through this …” Working in Entertainment taught me one thing and that ’ s the importance of burning the midnight oil and going above and beyond for the sake of the need … and in my case , it ’ s the child ( ren ).
As this year comes to an end and you embark on your new beginning in 2018 , I encourage you to re-evaluate your purpose-filled life . In all that you do remember you have a duty as an Educator . Your platform may not be that of a school , but conversation is an exchange and with this exchange I challenge you to positively add to culture by sowing a seed in youth . If you ’ re leaving it solely up to the teachers then you ’ ve failed your child . I think as a culture , whether that be millennial or black , we ’ ve lost sight of the “ It takes a village …” mentality . Whether it be staying after the school and tutoring that student who ’ s struggling , having that conversation with your niece or nephew who ’ s itching to be grown so bad , or volunteering at your local community center or church .
Above all , remember what it was like to be young and acknowledge that one of the sure ways to right your wrongs is to live a life of service by educating youth .
And to quote one of Chicago ’ s finest Chance the Rapper … “ My village raised ‘ em a child …” and now it ’ s time for us to raise up another and another until we conquer the nation with the brilliance of black and brown minds . If we don ’ t , who will ?
Make a Difference & Stay Woke !
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