Day 1085
Today, we spent some time honoring educators at our local Lincoln Elementary School for the Arts. Ranger started the day and, after a break in the action, we traded out the ‘Golden Action’ for Gus! Both boys brought peace, love and licks to the staff.
Elementary schools are a melting pot of teachers with various talents, personalities and strengths. Although other venues can boast a like grouping, it is my sincere belief that this level of education lures some of the most creative and brave individuals in the profession! Having been witness to the evolution of elementary education as a student, teacher and volunteer, the changes in the institution have been drastic indeed!
As a child, I sat in a desk with my hands folded and my mind embracing anything tossed my way. Creative thinking and individuality were frowned upon (TOTALLY not true in Miss Moen’s room!) as we learned facts and lessons in a lock-step fashion. It worked back then, but it has evolved through the years!
Today’s student is encouraged to be free-thinking and to lean into their individual strengths. Although the engagement is much more evident (Again, the exception would be my second grade teacher!), the “crowd control” is far more challenging! Picture, if you will, 23 kittens being enticed into one area for a lesson on “How to Use the Cat-Box." Each fluffy participant has their own idea of how it should be done with their engagement deteriorating moment by moment. As the “head feline,” you know that there will be state tests to see if the kittens are successfully following the lessons taught. While the kittens have now decided to switch their attention to a basket of yarn, you realize you have little power to force them back to the cat box! Stress ensues and your level of concern elevates quickly…after all, there will be a test!
Enter a Therapy Dog (or two) to help alleviate the stress of the day! The Goldens did their job well! Teachers are Super Heroes! Ranger, Gus and I hope we helped lower a few blood pressures on this day! I believe they could use a resident dog in every school! Ranger and Gus would volunteer!
