I was listening to that Christmas song which says, "Its the most
wonderful time
of the year." Yet, while we celebrate Chanukah, Christmas, and Kwanza with
shopping,
giving presents, cooking, vacationing, traveling, feasting, partying, lighting
up, and
decorating, many of us miss the point of it all. By merely decking the halls
with boughs
of holly, by merely burning candles, by turning holy days into holidays, we
lose our
perspective. This is the most wonderful time of the year because for a few
weeks we've
found connection and put off contention. This is the most wonderful time of
the year
because for a few weeks we've replace the sadness and gloom in our hearts with
comfort and
joy. This is the most wonderful time of the year because for a few weeks we're
moved by
the spirit of generosity. But, we shouldn't wrap our presents only with paper
and we
shouldn't light up our houses with only bulbs and candles. Instead, we should
wrap and
brighten with hope and love. For while the trees and decorations and
celebrations are
seasonal, while so many gifts are returned or broken or forgotten or tired of,
a truly
loving and giving heart is not.
Now, what does this have to do with the classroom? Everything! Let me
tell you
why yesterday was one of those most wonderful times of the year. At the end of
closure
yesterday, when we each reflect on what if anything meaningful we will remember
from our
class experience, I asked if anyone had any final "words for the good and
welfare of the
class." A student whom I'll call Sam suddenly jumped up in front of the class
to speak.
I cringed. "Now what," I silently moaned to myself.
I was totally unprepared for the gift we were about to receive. You
see, Sam had
been what could only be described as a student from hell. He had played the
demonic role
of the cackling smart aleck. Disruption, sarcasm, and disdain seemed to be his
middle
names. I had been on his case and in his face all semester. He wouldn't
journal; he
wouldn't write the conversations with the assigned photographs; he wouldn't
work on the
projects. His class attendance was erratic. When he came, he was always late.
His
attitude was one of smugness, arrogance, and even defiance. He didn't take
much of
anything seriously though he said he did. He didn't care what effect his
actions had on
his community. He never communicated with his community members inside or
outside of
class. He and I had gotten into it in class on more than one occasion,
especially when he
challenged me by first refusing to bring in donuts as a result of blatantly
using his cell
phone in class. Every time I laid down the law, he'd twist and bend and break
it. But,
something, something I couldn't put my finger on, told me something was there,
not to
surrender, not to cut him loose as I had with another student, and to be there
as that man
of many second chances. It was a sixth sense that told me that he was testing
me, daring
me to lose my cool, seeing if my money was where my mouth was. So, I kept on
pulling him
aside for brief, private "you're better than this" chats. I kept parrying his
mocking
thrusts. I kept encouraging and edifying him in emails. Two weeks ago, Sam
did a one
eighty. His body language, facial expressions, general demeanor completely
changed. He
was seriously journaling; he was working hard on the commercial project; he
came to class
every day. Was he scared of failing? Was he doing the right things for the
wrong
reasons? I wasn't sure. I was afraid to hope.
I had come up to him Wednesday and asked him, "What hell is going on?"
He answered with a smile that was rid of any sign of smugness, "I got
it. It may
be too late, but I finally heard you. I'm beginning to see what you see and
decided it
was time to stop disrespecting myself and everyone around me. You're right.
I've got to
dare to dare if I'm going to get anywhere. I've got to start living your words
and make
them my words."
To say I was stunned would be a proverbial understatement. Sometimes
you accept
and just don't ask why. Today, it all paid off. He displayed such humility
and courage.
There was, standing up there in front of everyone, not only admitting that he
had been a
disruptive force, not only thanking me for never giving up on him, but most of
all,
publicly apologizing, with a sincerity in his voice and a tear in his eye,
begging for
forgiveness, for the disrespect he had shown to me, to his fellow students, and
to his
community member. I stood there amazed, dumbfounded, speechless, screaming
with a tear in
my eye and a "yes" in my heart as everyone yelled and applauded. After class,
his
community member came up to me, deeply touched by what Sam had done, to plead
his case
even though she said she had raked him over the coals all semester. What a
wow! What a
holiday present. It was the most wonderful time of the year.
So, in the spirit of the season, I ask if you have ever thought about
the
atmosphere you create in the classroom when you invest your teaching with the
glorious
message and meaning that each person unconditionally is sacred, noble,
valuable, and worth
every ounce of effort? Have you ever thought of the impact you have when you
refuse to
give up on a student? Have you ever thought that this is truly the greatest
story ever
told and the true miracle of the lights, and should not be lost among the
passing academic
bells, bows, and baubles of lectures, technology, tests, grades, and GPAs?
Have you ever
thought about how good you feel after you have encouraged and supported someone
else, been
respectful and thoughtful, believed in and loved, been kind to or smiled at her
or him?
Have you ever thought how good that other person feels? I don't really have to
say
anything else to advocate that we should never miss the opportunity to be
thoughtful and
respectful, to give encouragement and support, to be kind to and to smile at,
to have
faith in, to have hope for, and to love.
We have to love and admire--if not to support and encourage--those
academicians
who can bring their loving hearts to the campus and into the classroom, who
feel each day
in that classroom is a wonderful time of the year. They know that warming
emotional
sunshine has a better chance of helping things grow than does a chilling
overcast; they
know that where faith, hope and love grow, miracles blossom.
Susan and I want to take this occasion to wish each and every one of
you a very
Merry Christmas, a Happy Chanukah, and a joyous Kwanza. And, may each of your
coming days
be a wonderful time of the year.
Make it a good day.
--Louis--
Louis Schmier http://www.therandomthoughts.com
Department of History
http://www.therandomthoughts.edublogs.org
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, Georgia 31698 /\ /\ /\ /\
(229-333-5947) /^\\/ \/ \ /\/\__/\ \/\
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