The Island of Misfit Toys

Preface:  Last week, I wrote about holding on to what you have.  The events of last Friday in Newtown, Connecticut made that even more clear.  This was a senseless tragedy.  Senseless.  Christmas in Connecticut will have a different feel this year.  There are gifts under the tree that already have names on them that will not be received.  There will be empty chairs at the family table.  Moms and Dads will mourn the loss of their children.  Spouses will not have their soul mate to share the holiday with.  Other family members will be numb as they wander aimlessly trying to figure out the mind of a murderer.  I thought of our school and how we have been spared devastation of this time.  I pray daily for God to surround us all with a hedge of protection as I am sure others do.  As we weep for those in Connecticut, let’s remember that this season comes with a promise unlike any others.  Follow that light that shone so brilliantly centuries ago.  You may not find the answer to this event, but you will find peace.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer came to our black and white television set in 1964.  This Christmas classic was shown once a year with no encore performance, no VCR or DVD or purchase possible.  In the kid world, you had one shot at seeing this before Santa came and trust me, every single kid from Mildred Merkely Elementary saw this as an event to not be missed.  My Mom was slick as snot on a doorknob on this night, she would make the most vegetable-laden meal ever made with liver as the entrée followed by a glass of 1% milk that you could swim in – all which had to be consumed before the four of us could stretch out in front of the 19 inch Zenith console that weighed approximately 725 pounds.  Anyway, this video had plenty of memorable characters including Sam the Snowman, Clarice, The Humble Bumble (Abominable Snowman), Yukon Cornelius,  Hermie (later to be a dentist), the boss Elf (who worked off season at Amish Acres), and, of course, Santa himself.  You know the story – Rudolph gets bullied beyond belief by the group of adolescent reindeer, leaves home with Hermie who is blasted by many for his goal in life, and meets up with an explorer who somehow exists on hamhocks and guitar strings.  Not how you remember it?  While on their journey to find their independence together (oxymoron), they land on The Island of Misfit Toys.  This is the place where all of the unwanted toys go.  There is a boat that won’t float, a cowboy who rides an ostrich, a squirt gun that shoots jelly, a bird that swims, and a “Charlie” in the box, among others.  They are just left there…forgotten.  They have defects and no one wants them. No one loves them. They are perceived as not being able to bring joy to the any good girl or boy.  That is, until Rudolph leads the sleigh to the island where Santa finds homes for all of the toys where they will be loved.  Once again proving that the greatest of these is love…

When our (there is that pronoun again) building opened and I gave my first staff presentation, I included this statement about the kids: “There will be kids here that you just don’t like.  I don’t care if you like them or not.  BUT, you better love them.” I still stand by that statement.  We have kids here that don’t seem to fit in.  We have kids here who don’t dress to the nines.  We have kids here who feel alone.  There are kids here that don’t feel loved.  There are kids here that are hungry. There are kids here whose parent is incarcerated. Some of these kids feel like they are on The Island of Misfit Toys and see no hope of getting off of it.  Maybe they see our school as a safe haven where they are accepted.  Maybe they see our school as a place where their concerns are addressed. Maybe they see our school as a place where they will get the one guaranteed meal of the day.  Maybe they see our school as a place to fit in on a team or as a club member.  The common thread here is that our school can be that place for them.  Every human being has value and that value needs to be accentuated.  Find the good in kids and then find ways for them to demonstrate that.  Is that a tough task?  You bet it is.  It is well worth the investment.

Hold Tight to What You Have

Our youngest daughter, Annie, graduates from Indiana State University this Saturday morning.  Like her Mom, she is smart, pretty, and sure of herself.  Like her Dad, she has a heart for kids and chose to be a teacher.  I believe that she will be a good one because she genuinely wants to make a difference and her track record of service supports that. She has a tremendous sense of humor and seems to bring this trait out at just the right times.  We have watched her grow from a little curly-haired girl full of vigor to a committed young woman who knows where she is headed and is joyful in the pursuit. Mary and I will watch her take that walk in the Hulman Center and be pretty grateful.  She will receive the President’s Award for Scholarship/Leadership/Service at the commencement ceremony.  22 years ago, I didn’t know if we would see this day or any others.  In the middle of the night, we found her in her crib unconscious and not breathing.  Trust me, it is pretty nerve-wracking to hold your limp little girl tightly in your arms with your wife giving her mouth to mouth resuscitation while praying desperately at the same time.  Thanks to the grace of God and the skills of my wife, Annie survived and after a few years of medication, she was healed of her affliction.  You realize just what you have when you are about to lose it.  We didn’t lose our daughter that day.  Saturday, our curly-haired girl becomes a college graduate.  I am thankful that this day has come.  It’s going to be a good day and one that I am going to hold tightly to.

Realize that as teachers we are making a personal investment into  futures.  Our job is to get them ready for the next grade level…. that’s just on the surface.  If that’s all it is, I would suggest that you are putting your influence in a box.  Do not diminish the effect you have on your students far down the road.  The lessons aren’t always about finding the “X” in an equation, it is also about finding the “X” in life.  It isn’t just about knowing the causes of the Civil War, but understanding the ramifications of these causes and how they can be avoided in the future.  It’s not just about a simple hypothesis and a two day lab.  It’s about transferring that methodology to solve problems down the road.  While we teach fitness and healthy lifestyles, we would shudder if our students are not heeding our advice a few years later.  Pushing nouns and verbs together is great as long as this is transferred to other disciplines and outside of school.  The list could go on and on.  One of the best compliments that I had ever received was this – one of my former athletes, who I had not seen in 13 years, reunited with me at the same wedding reception.  I asked how she was doing and her reply was simply this:  “You know, Coach, I am just doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong.”  Yep, I have been saying that for some time.  My point is this – do not put a limit on yourself on how much you can influence others. Be the example that so many are looking to find.  Success is knowing that at least one other life was made easier because you were in it.  Have you succeeded today?  Realize the influence you have and don’t ever lose that realization.  Hold tight to what you have.

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My Browns play their final home game of the season against the Washington Redskins this Sunday.  I wonder of anyone is “scalping” tickets?

Allegiance

On November 15, I was hoisting the flags outside of our building as I normally do.  Pretty much the same method every day – raise the American flag first and then the Indiana flag unless the Browns win and this flag is raised as well. Sadly, I do not get to raise the latter of these flags more often.  Anyway, it’s pretty much a routine without a whole bunch of thought. That morning was different.  That morning took the mundane out of what I was doing.  What happened that morning put a deeper meaning into what I was doing.  That morning gave me new hope.  That morning made me proud to be to a citizen.  What happened that morning choked me up and yes, I am not embarrassed to write that what happened that morning left tears running down my face.  As I was raising the American flag, I looked out across the parking lot to see a man jump out of his truck, stand at attention and salute our flag until it was at the top of the flagpole.  No contrived ceremony, just an outstanding witness by a serviceman of allegiance to the principles of our country.  It is just what I needed.  To many, we are losing our moral compass on which this great nation was founded.  In a lot of ways, I also believe that is true and, in time, that will haunt us.  As I watched this man, I thought about the countless numbers of men and women who have fought so valiantly for the freedoms that we all enjoy; even those freedoms that include the desecration of the very flag that we pledge allegiance to every day at school and the same one that this man stood at attention to. I thought about those close to me that have given so much for our freedoms knowing full well that they will never get that time back.  On that morning, a man I have never met changed my perspective through his allegiance. 

Allegiance is about staying true to the purpose. So, what is the purpose in what we do?  A Lambda Chi Alpha brother gave a speech on purpose last year. Jerre Stead said this:  “Purpose is not so much a matter of what you do…but what you are certain you can be.  Purpose is the unconditional, limitless realm in your life that cannot be diminished by anything that happens.  You have always known there is a purpose…essential to who you are.  Give it to life, again and again, for you’ll never tire of seeing it shine.”  Again, what is the purpose in what we do?  We are teachers. This is a noble profession.   In this, we challenge kids to reach higher levels.  We expect kids to reach farther than they currently are.  We pass along our love for a subject with them.  We mold them.  We try to build them into someone with integrity and character. We take advantage of teachable moments.   We provide living examples for them.  We make a personal investment into them.  When times do not go as planned, do not lose heart.  Stay true to your purpose.  We are not making widgets here.  We are making people.  Stay true to your purpose.  Don’t let anyone knock you off of that course.  Be one with allegiance to your purpose.

The Browns play along the shores of Lake Erie against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.  I cannot believe that I am thinking three in a row!  Don’t wake me up!