(In light of today's sorrowful situation, Saturday Sayings has come a little early. This quote is borrowed from a previous Saturday Sayings about teaching to the heart found here.)
It's just hard to focus my thoughts on academics when there's a school that's missing beautiful children much like the ones in my care and missing loving adults much like the ones I work with in a community much like the one I teach in. In the midst of this unthinkable tragedy, I'm reminded of how I live in a day and age when teaching to the head is not nearly enough. For one reason or another, too many young hearts are in need of an astounding amount of nurturing. These hearts will influence our future world one way or another. It's a difficult thing to digest that the young man responsible for this evil act could have been one of my first graders only fourteen years ago. It leaves me with this question. Who will the little people in my room grow up to be fourteen years from now?
(Thank you God for running our way when we even but whisper your name. I know You are in the midst of that community.)
Sometimes the silence is golden, but I fear that the silence in that town tonight has a gravely different feel. My heart is breaking for that school family.
ReplyDeleteMine too Barbara. Mine too.
DeleteGreat, Mac. It is a sobering question, for sure, but one that really counts.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I know that I often failed to teach to the heart in my early years, but I am learning what matters.
Bless you, as you shape those little heart and minds.
Laur, the longer I teach, the more I find myself teaching about what matters the most too. Your students are most blessed by the way you touch their hearts.
Deletewell said Tammy.
ReplyDeleteKelli
Thank you Kelli.
DeleteI teach in a small community and about the same size school. This will lay heavily on our hearts for quite awhile. Such a heartbreaking story full of sadness and grief.
ReplyDeleteRachel
A-B-Seymour
Rachel, yes it is so heartbreaking and long lasting.
DeleteMy heart aches for this community. Truly unimaginable that this could happen.
ReplyDeleteLori
Conversations in Literacy
Yes Lori. Mine aches as well.
DeleteMy prayers are lifted up for all involved. So much loss of precious life. God be near the brokenhearted...Ps.34:18
ReplyDeleteLiteracyMinute
Thank you Sandi for adding your prayers and thoughts on my blog.
DeleteA beautiful message, Tammy.
ReplyDeleteThank you much Barbara.
Delete