The back to school season is in full force. Our social media feeds are filling with photos of students poised for their first day and parents wondering where their children’s growing years disappeared to. Those of us with friends or family in education see the work and preparation involved with classroom management and planning. I’ve also witnessed some very touching stories of parents, children and educators in the last year – stories of exhausted teachers trying to meet the demands of a classroom while reaching out to that one student that needs extra support, parents who attempt to advocate for what they feel is best for their children, and heart-warming stories about children who show love and support to their peers and teachers. Here are a few of the lessons that I plan to remember and instill in my home and family as we prepare for the new school year.
The Toothpaste Lesson
In 2016, Amy Beth Gardner posted a photo of a plate filled with gobs of toothpaste and a note that went viral on Facebook. After asking her daughter to empty the tube of toothpaste, she then asked her to put the toothpaste back. When her daughter couldn’t, she carefully explained: “You will remember this plate of toothpaste for the rest of your life. Your words have the power of life or death… Just like this toothpaste, once the words leave your mouth, you can’t take them back.” Read the full post here.
Classroom Respect
Earlier this year, another Facebook post went viral after a teacher, Julie Marburger, posted about her experience with students and parents that lead her to decide to discontinue her career in education. In her post, she explained the lack of respect her students had shown in the days before her decision and the lack of accountability they were held to by their parents. Exhausted, she pleaded with parents to support their children’s teachers by upholding classroom expectations including turning homework in (and on time) and respecting classroom property. Read the full post here.
Think Outside the Pants
A single mom wanted to support her son during a “Dads and Doughnuts” day at school. With no dad in the picture, Whitney Kittrell dressed up like a man for the event, adding a painted beard, a ball cap over her blond hair, and baggy sweat pants and a t-shirt. While many families would feel excluded and not attend because of the short-sightedness of the event’s name, she chose to find a way to smile and support her son while making a statement for solidarity and inclusivity for single parents supporting children in elementary schools across the country. Read the full story here.
Warrior Movement
The Arlee Warriors in Montana, a high school located on the Flathead Indian Reservation, chose to use their heritage and the momentum of their successful basketball season to advocate for suicide prevention during tournament time. The basketball players came together to create a moving video that was posted to social media encouraging others to get help when they feel isolated and alone, and to reach out and be aware of their team members in team sports and in the classroom. Montana claims the highest suicide rate in the United States and the youth are stepping in to work on prevention. See the report here.
As your family, your neighbors, and your coworkers prepare for back to school, these lessons from social media can help guide a positive and uplifting culture at this “second new year” of 2018. Long after we have purchased the pencils, crayons, folders, and notebooks, we have an opportunity to instill respect, compassion, kindness, and responsibility in ourselves as adults and in the children in our lives.
About the Author:
Ashley Ostheimer Hilliard joined the Meetings Northwest team in 2016, bringing her financial management experience, hard work ethic, and can-do attitude. She excels in fast-paced and detail orientated work. Jumping into projects and digging into new information allows her to assist in any assignment. She is currently a graduate student (MPH) at the University of Montana and loves learning and serving in her community.
