Who would know that a trip to the dentist would be so gratifying.
I had to make a trip to the dentist yesterday. As one who has suffered from many dental problems since I was a child, when I found this dentist more than 25 years ago, I knew I had met an extraordinary person. He gently listed my many dental problems and patiently led me through one procedure after another to get me to a good place. Since that time, he has consistently and kindly helped me with this medical issue. He is what we all like to imagine as an exemplary medical professional.
So yesterday when I arrived in his office for a last minute visit to solve a problem that erupted. He was kind and caring. That felt good during this pandemic, a time when we are faced with one problem after another.
I also had the chance to meet his daughter who is following in his footsteps. She exemplified the same kind, caring, and exemplary care and skill. He was clearly and rightfully proud to share his craft with his daughter.
My dentist exemplifies the America I want to be apart of, the America I want to support. He exemplifies an America where people take care of one another in skillful, kind, and supportive ways. His example is a direct contrast to our current self-serving, hateful, ignorant, and corrupt leadership and service from President Trump and his corrupt team of family members and cronies. I want a kind, loving, and caring nation--one where people have the opportunity to develop great knowledge and skill, and then use what they have learned to help others.
I also want to contribute to my country as my dentist does--I want to be a kind, caring, and skillful caretaker to those I love, community members, and those I work with. As a teacher, I have strived to follow this path. When the path was clear, that's been easier. When the path is less clear, that's more difficult. Nonetheless, that's the direction I want to take.
Right now, the path ahead for educators is muddy--people don't know what to expect and we're also facing leadership at the national level and some local levels that are not supportive, kind, or caring--these leaders are creating worrisome hurdles to the work we want to do. Yet, there are others who are there to support our good work and kind care--those are the leaders we need to look to for direction.
As I prepare for the year ahead, I will continue on the path created with a few revisions. The path includes the following steps:
I had to make a trip to the dentist yesterday. As one who has suffered from many dental problems since I was a child, when I found this dentist more than 25 years ago, I knew I had met an extraordinary person. He gently listed my many dental problems and patiently led me through one procedure after another to get me to a good place. Since that time, he has consistently and kindly helped me with this medical issue. He is what we all like to imagine as an exemplary medical professional.
So yesterday when I arrived in his office for a last minute visit to solve a problem that erupted. He was kind and caring. That felt good during this pandemic, a time when we are faced with one problem after another.
I also had the chance to meet his daughter who is following in his footsteps. She exemplified the same kind, caring, and exemplary care and skill. He was clearly and rightfully proud to share his craft with his daughter.
My dentist exemplifies the America I want to be apart of, the America I want to support. He exemplifies an America where people take care of one another in skillful, kind, and supportive ways. His example is a direct contrast to our current self-serving, hateful, ignorant, and corrupt leadership and service from President Trump and his corrupt team of family members and cronies. I want a kind, loving, and caring nation--one where people have the opportunity to develop great knowledge and skill, and then use what they have learned to help others.
I also want to contribute to my country as my dentist does--I want to be a kind, caring, and skillful caretaker to those I love, community members, and those I work with. As a teacher, I have strived to follow this path. When the path was clear, that's been easier. When the path is less clear, that's more difficult. Nonetheless, that's the direction I want to take.
Right now, the path ahead for educators is muddy--people don't know what to expect and we're also facing leadership at the national level and some local levels that are not supportive, kind, or caring--these leaders are creating worrisome hurdles to the work we want to do. Yet, there are others who are there to support our good work and kind care--those are the leaders we need to look to for direction.
As I prepare for the year ahead, I will continue on the path created with a few revisions. The path includes the following steps:
- Read, study, and look for ways to apply the learning from the book, White Fragility
- Consider the plans set for school year 2020-2021, and make personal decisions about next steps with a focus on personal safety and good service to others
- Focus on personal health
In the weeks ahead, I have many appointments and plans with all kinds of caretakers. I am grateful that these people exist--they truly help us to live good lives. These are the people that should take front and center stage in American society. As educators, we want to inspire our young students to learn as much as they can and look for ways to contribute to society like these caretakers do.