Lessons Learned
The Power of Kindness. The Strength of
Gentleness.
That glorious summer after
first grade witnessed the heart-soothing balm of the summer sunshine and the
comfort and calmness of home. But as June faded to July and July to August,
there loomed an anxiety-evoking reality; the beginning of a new school year. Following
a frightening first grade year with an incessantly yelling teacher, trepidation
filled this young heart in anticipation of second grade. Fear, one method
of classroom management and control, manifests in students through their
downcast eyes, rounded shoulders, and obvious crushed confidence. First
grade accomplished this for me. Just weeks from second grade, hopes were not
too high for anything better. Upon arrival in the new classroom, we
second grade students were greeted with a breath of lovely fresh air. In a
word, kindness. This kindness was to escort our class throughout second grade,
refilling our learning sails with a gentle breeze of optimism allowing and
encouraging us to bravely and excitedly explore new oceans of learning.
Kindness. A gentle voice. Happy eyes. Probably not attributes asked
about on a teacher job application, but clearly attributes deeply affecting
classroom morale and ultimately individual and collective classroom successes.
Kindness pierced through the learned fear of the previous school year and
nurtured a restored eye contact, strong shoulders and a sweet growing
confidence among all of us blessed to be in this happy second grade classroom.
I do not recall content taught nor content learned in second grade, albeit to
recognize that we all advanced to the third grade. I do recall, however, with
vivid and joyful recollection, the loving-kindness of a very gentle, very
special, very encouraging teacher, whose tender ways brought smiles and
motivated excellence. I have never forgotten to consider the tone used in
delivering words to children. Kindness matters. Kindness builds up. Kindness
outlasts content. Kindness is soothing, healing balm to the wounded spirit that
has been staggering under the excruciating weight of another’s bitterness.
Kindness lifts and restores. Kindness is free. Kindness is priceless.
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