Thursday, May 23, 2013

Moore , Oklahoma Teachers

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I have been doing a lot of thinking the last few days.

That sort of pondering that usually involves tears and awe and feelings of humility.


Aside from the fact that I think Texans and Oklahomans must be kin,

I am humbled by what we have seen and heard on the news this past week.


I have been thinking about teachers, specifically the Moore, Oklahoma teachers

whose stories of courage are now known..


Covering someone else’s child’s body with your own

during a deadly tornado,

while praying your own child is safe is nowhere to be found in teacher training.


Trust me-I know- I train teachers, and I was a teacher for 32 years.


It is also rare to find in any beginning teacher manual phrases like ‘shelter in place’,

that dire intercom warning

that can only mean a threat is near

and you the teacher are in charge. 


All of the test scores and benchmarks and lesson plan writing and lunch counts

slip away.


Dear parents – during those shelter in place moments-

it is not about any of that.


Those things are a small measure of the teaching a real teacher can do.

In those shelter in place moments,

it is about who you want in a fight.

***


Bravo Moore, Oklahoma teachers.

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8 comments:

The Gathering Place said...

Beautiful tribute. I can only hope I would be as brave and self-less.

Entertaining Women said...

Thank you, from Oklahoma. Cherry Kay

Theresa said...

Bravo indeed! Those BRAVE Teachers SAVED lives for sure! Have a blessed weekend dear Laura, HUGS!

JB said...

Amen, and thank God for teachers.

donna baker said...

Thank you for your kind words as we really are all in this together. I've noticed some negative comments on news sites about funding the cleanup in OK. Just let me say, you won't find Oklahomans lined up with their hands out demanding government food, water and aid. You'll find them helping each other and working hard.

Connie said...

And bravo to you for words so well said!! Many teachers across this land have had to face horrendous conditions in these past several months & all have shown mammoth bravery in helping their students. I am so proud to be an Oklahoman!

Karen said...

So beautifully stated, Laura. I know you were putting yourself in the shoes of those teachers... and also thinking about your two "dear daughters" who are in education. God bless the teachers!
Karen

Vicki@MorePowerfulBeyondMeasure said...

I'm a teacher in Georgia. The daughter of our School Counselor, lived in Moore, OK with her family. She is also one of my former students. She picked up her son about 15 minutes before the tornado hit Plaza Towers Elementary. Her house was near the school. They took shelter in a closet inside their home. They have been declared homeless, but they are all safe in Georgia now.
Oklahoma has suddenly become very close to Georgia for me. You wrote a wonderful tribute. Best, Vicki

 

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