Last week my son, Nathan, and I took a three day road trip. We drove up north to my home town; a short 6 hour drive. We visited the cemetery where my parents, Dorothy and Ernest and my brother, Thomas, are buried. The next day we visited ‘The Springs.’ Among other things ‘The Springs’ is, indeed, a number of fresh water springs and it is also the name of the high school that I attended (for more than 20 years one of us six kids was enrolled in this small, faith-based high school). The school is located a few miles outside of the city and sits majestically near the top of a ledge. It has grown from a high school to three schools (K-12). Currently the school is completing a 26 million dollar renovation; impressive to say the least.
Nathan visited a few art classes and engaged the students in conversation and creativity. I spent a few hours with the school’s President. I left feeling hope-full. The next morning Nathan and I drove home. It was during the drive home that I began to feel a deep sadness, almost a depression. A memory was emerging.
FLASH-BACK
March, 1969. I was finishing my second year as a high school teacher. As a consequence of my first year’s teaching experience I had radically transformed (not changed – transformed) how I taught (which included my ‘teaching style,’ my syllabus and the classroom itself). I also held a vision of a ‘school-within-a-school’ that would emerge from concept into reality within four months. Then on Thursday, the 20th day of March, 1969 I had another life-altering experience. It was the memory of this experience that was emerging for me on our drive home; the memory that was nurturing my deep sadness.
It was 3:15pm. The last class had been dismissed. Students and teachers were all alive with energy as they prepared to leave the school or to stay and engage in the many ‘after-school activities’ that were available. I was preparing to go to a department meeting. I was about to leave my classroom when Mike walked in. Mike was a junior. He was quiet. He was involved in a number of activities (drama and the school newspaper come to mind). He was not in any of my classes. He asked me if I would talk with him. I told him that I had a department meeting to go to; I was already running late. Mike said that he would go and see if Mr.____ was available.
Mike, left the school, went home, and took his own life.
That night I learned that I was the fifth teacher Mike had sought out. Mike did not connect with any of the six adults he sought out that afternoon; we were all too busy to take the time to talk to, to connect with Mike.
I was on my way to a ‘department meeting’ – SUBJECT was more important than STUDENT.
On the 21st of March, 1969 I made a decision. The STUDENT would always come first. My commitment: The STUDENT is infinitely more important than the SUBJECT.
Since that fateful day in March, 1969 I have striven to be ‘person-focused’ first. When I am not awake, aware, intentional, purposeful and fully present in the ‘now’ then I miss the opportunity to be ‘person-first.’ I strive to hold this question: ‘What are is your highest priority need right now?’
Today, once again, I will have the opportunity to be ‘person-first’ focused. Today, once again, I will have choice: ‘STUDENT VS. SUBJECT.’