Please Share Some Love…
This is a concept that is hard for me to comprehend. I have NEVER felt this way. It breaks my heart to FINALLY begin to realize this, but it also makes what I DO in this life more important than ever… For MANY, it is the end of another school year… For MOST, it is a time of excitement and plans and fun with friends and family… For SOME, it is a time of dread and worry and unstructured God-knows-what-can-happen at any moment and “How can I get some food?“
This summer, EVERY KID DESERVES LOVE! If you have any extra, please share.
I have been teaching for almost 30 years and this is always one of the hard parts! As a teacher, I need a break and I look forward to all that the idea of summer has to offer…but I KNOW some of my students find safety and stability in the structure of the classroom and school environment, whether it’s the reassurance that someone will care and follow through with what they say, or whether it’s the safe and secure feeling that their physical needs (like meals) will be met. I hate that some kids are even aware of this feeling!
Today was my last day of school and there were so many tears and secret notes of appreciation passed my way…many of these students are those with unstable home lives. We just have to do our best to show our love for them every day that they are in our care. I also try and contact my students over the summer to reassure them that someone is out there thinking of them and caring about them.
Your position is so important also, and I thank you and all the social workers out there who support our students, as well as support the teachers!
Yup. The end of the school year is such a time of contradictions! Joy and relief and sadness and all that you mentioned above and so much more… it is a tough time though for sure. I hope everything goes well and I am sure your students feel very lucky to have such a special teacher. Lastly, I have a “social work degree” but I don’t really consider myself a “social worker”… I am just a “helper”… whatever that means. 🙂 Have a great summer.