Students Needs or Curriculum

It is a known fact that if a child is in needs I will be one of the first to step up and advocate for their best interest. This is a blessing and a curse. There are days I feel like tossing in the towel and allowing the systems or failed systems to take over, but I can't. It isn't in me. I will fight until I am blue in the face and I don't give up. It is exhausting. I bring many of those burdens home with me and can often lose sleep. Then I look at other teachers that may or may not feel the same. Sometimes I feel jealous. How can they give up on a child? What is inside of them that I don't have? Where is the off switch from school life to home life? How can they be completely present in there personal life while a child might be heading home not knowing where their next meal may come from or if they will be parenting themselves due to a disengaged parent. 

Then I read the book The Well Balanced Teacher by Mike Anderson. There is a quote in the book that states “It seems to me that the best teachers are the ones who are quietly rebellious(p.56).” As I reflected upon this quote I began to think, can I be quietly rebellious and still meet the needs of each student in my classroom? Of course I can! I can put the needs of students first even if that means curriculum might need to wait. Yes, both are very important. Students must learn and their needs have to be met as well. However, if we consider Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs we know that children cannot learn until their basic needs are met. I can do both in my classroom. I can advocate for basic needs, build relationship and teach curriculum. I can be a quiet rebellious teacher and stop my public advocacy while accomplishing the same task. It is okay to fight some fights alone. It is possible to continue to advocate by using other venues. I will practice this skill.

Here is to the new, less vocal me. I am excited to see if my impact on students and families can increase when my focus becomes more individual. Wish me luck!