Teachers... gotta love them (well most of them anyway)

Newtown's new Old Principal, Donna Page... steps up and stands up by returning to school for the children!

The teachers, the ones who stand up, who teach, who are there.

We all remember our favorite ones, our most hated ones, the ones that pushed us beyond what we thought we could even try to do...

The teachers, oh my those teachers.

They taught us, they held us, they must have had nerves of steel in so many ways.

And just two days ago, one came out of retirement in Newtown CT, a familiar and loved face to take charge and to be there for all those children when they returned to an unfamiliar school and to try and feel safe.

She decided to be the one to step up, to stand up

and to assure the parents, the kids, the community that she would be the face of familiar, of love, of guidance and would lead.

A teacher, a guiding force of sanity in times that we often feel the world has gone mad.

Oh God Bless the teachers.

I came across a picture on Facebook today, and with it the following was written, and it was just too good not to share with all who enter here, all who look to this page at times for inspiration, for hope, for some place to vent at times.

I hope you will take it to your heart as strongly as I did as I thanked those teachers who taught me to read, those Elders who gave me grace in finding paths never walked and picked flowers to feel their texture while pondering the majesty of the world and the many lenses that we can view the same things along life's way.

The teachers, some in classrooms, many in families and on the streets of life, in beds too ill to stand, in the eyes and wonder of little ones, like in Newtown where they will show grown ups ways of grief and hope of tomorrow.

All are teachers, all are here to give each of us new and different perspectives of how to live our lives better, stronger, wiser, and with hope in healing ways.

Thank you teachers, thank you all for your grace under fire, your willingness to stand up and stand strong.

This is what was written under the picture of the woman above:

... 

After being interviewed by the school administration, the prospective teacher said:

"Let me see if I've got this right.

'You want me to go into that room with all those kids, correct their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse, monitor their dress habits, censor their T-shirt messages, and instill in them a love for learning.

'You want me to check their backpacks for weapons, wage war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, and raise their sense of self esteem and personal pride.

'You want me to teach them patriotism and good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair play, and how to register to vote, balance a checkbook, and apply for a job.

'You want me to check their heads for lice, recognize signs of antisocial behavior, and make sure that they all pass the final exams.

'You also want me to provide them with an equal education regardless of their handicaps, and communicate regularly with their parents in English, Spanish or any other language, by letter, telephone, newsletter, and report card.

'You want me to do all this with a piece of chalk, a blackboard, a bulletin board, a few books, a big smile, and a starting salary that qualifies me for food stamps.


'You want me to do all this, and then you tell me......

I CAN'T PRAY?'

[This was nominated for email of the year] 

...

I have to tell ya, I thank the teachers, my family who taught me to read, to pray, I thank the Creator for listening to my on-going conversations we have and to those who are now in spiritland and talk with me all the time.

I believe with all my heart that those in Newtown were filled with the Creator on that horrible day, that they were filled with spirit, and that many if not all of them prayed and that those teachers prayed.

And yes, we hold them in prayer and with deep gratitude for all that they do in teaching our children, our teens, our adults.

I cannot imagine the tasks, the challenges that are faced each day by the teachers, the principals, the angst of parents, godparents, grandparents, neighbors and communities. Well actually I can in many of those venues.

Education and awareness is key,

and to thank our teachers is not enough;

we must find ways to fund our schools, to increase the salaries of our teachers to get and keep the best of the best, and yes

we pray for them and with them.

We also have to do a better job of screening out those who are predators and call themselves educators in these dangerous times in order to protect our kids, and isn't that just a damn shame...

There is much to be done in this new year, yet let us begin with

thanking our teachers and giving them all the support and prayers we can give.

Thank you teachers, and God Bless you and keep you safe and moving.

Thank YOU, Donna Page, for being a bright light and open arms to those in Newtown as they nervously handed their little ones into your care this week knowing that you stepped up and are known to them.

You are one fine woman with a heart of gold.

May the Creator place a rainbow of protection over all and hope in the hearts of each and everyone of us in healing ways.

Walk in Beauty

DRSES