I had a moment today. Not just any old "mama" moment, but a really proud, heart swelling moment. I was standing in the middle of my classroom, as my little preschoolers moved all around me, busy with their "work" in our classroom centers, and I was talking to the case worker of one of my little kiddos who is in foster care. I actually knew her (former co worker from Ashland), and we were talking casually about our little guy and his situation in his current foster care home and his performance at school. She bent down to talk to him, and she asked him a few questions, like "Who is your teacher?" and "What do you like to play with?" and he answered, smiling and happy. Then she asked him, "Who is your best friend in your class?" and he smiled up at her, pointed across the room (at my son) and said, "KIRK!" My eyes started to burn and my heart was too big for my chest....my little boy....best friends with a kiddo who has been in 4 different foster homes in the last year, wears glasses, has some major speech issues, and doesn't know farm animals or Disney characters. I knew right then that I made the right choice for Kirk.
Public school allows situations like this to happen. Kids who have more than what they need, and kids who have nothing can be best friends. Kirk spent his playground time this morning playing with a little guy whose trailer doesn't have a doorknob, and my teaching assistant and I were afraid we would fall through the porch trying to get inside for our home visit (he's getting my Christmas donations this year!). It doesn't matter to them if it doesn't matter to us. I have kids who have a lot more than us, too. I think public school is such an amazing place for all kinds of kids to come together and build a "school family" (as I call it).
We share our days for 9 months. We sing together, eat together, play together, laugh together, and cry together (more than I'd like!). Even though he drives me crazy sometimes, I am glad I can watch Kirk build friendships with all kinds of kids....and proud that I created the environment that make these friendships happen. I have been teaching public school for 11 years, and I (very) strongly believe that it teaches children (and teachers) far more than academic skills. We all learn about life. We all learn acceptance, tolerance, and love. I'm glad to be a part of it, and I'm glad Kirk is too.
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