Teachable Moments
Sunday, July 25, 2010
One Man's Trash is Another Man's Treasure
There is an exit on a Los Angeles freeway that is commonly used because it leads to a street that is a major thoroughfare.
At this particular exit, there are three old men who beg for money as cars await the signal light to turn green. One of the men pushes himself into the street in a wheelchair and holds his hand out or shoves his tattered cup into the open window of drivers unaware!
These 3 men also lived in a small space alongside this exit between the shrubbery and a fence.
A few days ago, I was driving on the opposite side of the street and headed to work. As I waited at the red light, I noticed two police cars with their emergency lights flashing and a trash truck parked at the corner. The three old men had horrified looks on their faces as the police officers and trash collector threw everything they owned into the truck! Everything! Clothes, shoes, blankets, mattresses...absolutely everything!
I pondered, as I drove away, that they were throwing everything these men owned. It may have seemed to be trash to the officers, but the items were the treasures of these old men.
As educators, we must always remember that children come to school with treasures. It is up to us to celebrate their redeeming qualities, skills and talents. We should never minimize these treasures or decide whether they are dispensable or not.
Build on your students' treasures. They deserve to know that we value what they bring to the classroom!
At this particular exit, there are three old men who beg for money as cars await the signal light to turn green. One of the men pushes himself into the street in a wheelchair and holds his hand out or shoves his tattered cup into the open window of drivers unaware!
These 3 men also lived in a small space alongside this exit between the shrubbery and a fence.
A few days ago, I was driving on the opposite side of the street and headed to work. As I waited at the red light, I noticed two police cars with their emergency lights flashing and a trash truck parked at the corner. The three old men had horrified looks on their faces as the police officers and trash collector threw everything they owned into the truck! Everything! Clothes, shoes, blankets, mattresses...absolutely everything!
I pondered, as I drove away, that they were throwing everything these men owned. It may have seemed to be trash to the officers, but the items were the treasures of these old men.
As educators, we must always remember that children come to school with treasures. It is up to us to celebrate their redeeming qualities, skills and talents. We should never minimize these treasures or decide whether they are dispensable or not.
Build on your students' treasures. They deserve to know that we value what they bring to the classroom!