September2017

DearEducator,

Welcometo the 2017-2018 school year.  

Forme, September - the start of each school year - is a promise of hope; it’s filledwith possibility.  And this has existed,for me, from my years as a student right through to teaching, and continues tothis day.  However, I know this isn’t theway that everyone starts a new school year.

Forsome, the new school year begins with fears of peer pressure and bullying.  Pressure for good marks, meeting expectationsand dealing with anxiety clouds excitement and hope – for teachers and students.  Difficult home lives, anxiety . . . the listgoes on and on. In addition to all of these struggles are the images oftraumatic events of the summer:  from thehate-filled rally in Charlottesville to the threat of conflict between the US andNorth Korea to the floods in Texas brought on by Hurricane Harvey.  Stories in the media talk about the risingtide of racism, antisemitism, anti-Islamic sentiment, anti-indigenous,anti-LGBTQ, anti . . .  We’ve seen imagesof the worst in humanity alongside counter messages of courageous human acts ofselflessness and rescue. It is a lot to take in.  Messages are conflicting and the futureappears uncertain. 

Aseducators, all of these issues walk through our classroom doors, carried by theyoung people who look to us for guidance. So how do we instill hope?  How dowe maneuver through sensitive topics in a fair and just manner? 

Firstof all, we listen.  What do our studentsknow and understand from the messages and images that they’re seeing?  How exposed are they to these incidents?  What are their fears?

Second,we create a safe environment where difficult questions can be asked andstudents feel respected and included.  Weidentify hateful messages as wrong, and we talk about why they’re wrong.  We engage in thoughtful discussion that isfactual and if we don’t know an answer, we admit it.

Thenwe work to find the answer.  We educateourselves.  As educators, we all have ourown thoughts and biases, but we strive to present a balanced approach to theseissues in our classroom where our own personal opinions do not cloud ourpresentation. 

Wepresent stories of individuals who have made a positive impact in theircommunities: the heroes, those who would not accept hate and injustice as ananswer. 

Finally,we empower our students.  By giving thema voice along with opportunities to be change-makers – whether it’s to oneperson or a multitude, every act of kindness is important. 

Togetherwe can create a culture of caring in our classrooms and schools.  We have this heavy responsibility on ourshoulders.  But I believe we can doit. 

I keepthe following excerpt from a letter written by a Holocaust survivor on my deskthroughout the school year as motivation and a daily reminder of myresponsibility as a teacher: 

“I ama survivor of a concentration camp. My eyes saw what no person should witness:gas chambers built by learned engineers. Children poisoned by educatedphysicians. Infants killed by trained nurses. Women and babies shot by highschool and college graduates. So, I am suspicious of education. 

Myrequest is:

Helpyour children become human. Your efforts must never produce learned monsters,skilled psychopaths or educated Eichmanns. Reading, writing, and arithmetic areimportant only if they serve to make our children more human.” 

Best wishes for the 2017-2018 school year. 

Sincerely,

Melissa Mikel
Directorof Education