JP: Stand with Character
Preparing for PARCC testing, second round evaluations, and the normal chaos of being a principal made me fell like I was running on empty. It always seems when I am feeling overwhelmed as an educator something happens to remind me of why we teach children. Today, a greater force sent a child messenger to teach an old man.
My secretary's eyes said more than the note that she handed me. Her moist red eyes provided emotion to the words. I stood in shocked silence as I read that JP found his middle school sister unresponsive in the bathtub last night. The squad and police responded. His sister was transported to the hospital and is recovering. I starred straight ahead avoiding eye contact as my secretary told me that JP was absent.
My heart sank and I fought back tears. My nose was burning as I thought about the young girl who was a student at our school last year. Questions raced through my head. How was JP? Was he safe? I called the resource officer as I recalled JP's previous tough day at school.
Yesterday, I was not in the mood when JP stomped into my office with a think sheet. He needed a tune-up and I was ready to give him one. He has received dozens of tune up chats over the past four years. Conferences with counselors and heart to heart conversations with his dad helped, but JP still has his moments. I was not in the mood for his angry stomping and growling. He was not in the mood for a grumpy old principal.
Experience teaches us that an angry child is a hurting child. We teach strategies for helping students cope with hurt. We provide caring adults to listen. We don't accept anger and violence as an expression of hurt. He was hurting and he needed compassion. He also needed boundaries before he spiraled out of control.
He growled at me and I told him I was not the dog so don't bark at me. We gathered up his work and he was assigned a desk in my office. Now that limits were set, he started to let down his shield. We talked. We barked. I was direct and told him he had to decide if he wanted to be someone who stood with character even when it was hard. He glared. I reminded him that he was always safe at school and that I was not going to allow him to use anger as an excuse.
I finished my call to the school resource officer and could her my secretary greeting JP saying that we are glad that he came to school. Our counselor and I swept him up into my office. We hugged him as we learned the following from a young boy that went straight to our hearts.
JP loves his sisters and his actions would show what it means to stand with character. Last night his sister and him were home alone. His sister was taking a shower. Something didn't seem right. He checked on her. She was laying in the tub unresponsive suffering from an asthma attack. He turned off the water and covered his sister. He called 911. He ran to the neighbors and got help. He stayed with her until the squad arrived. His prompt actions prevented a potentially fatal incident. JP, who drives me nuts from time to time, was quick to respond following safety protocols to save his sister.
I no longer felt overwhelmed. My perceived burdens floated away. Often what we stress about is truly just stuff. JP taught us all that what really matters is what we do out of kindness and love to help someone in need. He saved a life through love. He stood with charter and earned the right to be called a hero.
Children always teach me more than I will ever teach them.
My secretary's eyes said more than the note that she handed me. Her moist red eyes provided emotion to the words. I stood in shocked silence as I read that JP found his middle school sister unresponsive in the bathtub last night. The squad and police responded. His sister was transported to the hospital and is recovering. I starred straight ahead avoiding eye contact as my secretary told me that JP was absent.
My heart sank and I fought back tears. My nose was burning as I thought about the young girl who was a student at our school last year. Questions raced through my head. How was JP? Was he safe? I called the resource officer as I recalled JP's previous tough day at school.
Yesterday, I was not in the mood when JP stomped into my office with a think sheet. He needed a tune-up and I was ready to give him one. He has received dozens of tune up chats over the past four years. Conferences with counselors and heart to heart conversations with his dad helped, but JP still has his moments. I was not in the mood for his angry stomping and growling. He was not in the mood for a grumpy old principal.
Experience teaches us that an angry child is a hurting child. We teach strategies for helping students cope with hurt. We provide caring adults to listen. We don't accept anger and violence as an expression of hurt. He was hurting and he needed compassion. He also needed boundaries before he spiraled out of control.
He growled at me and I told him I was not the dog so don't bark at me. We gathered up his work and he was assigned a desk in my office. Now that limits were set, he started to let down his shield. We talked. We barked. I was direct and told him he had to decide if he wanted to be someone who stood with character even when it was hard. He glared. I reminded him that he was always safe at school and that I was not going to allow him to use anger as an excuse.
I finished my call to the school resource officer and could her my secretary greeting JP saying that we are glad that he came to school. Our counselor and I swept him up into my office. We hugged him as we learned the following from a young boy that went straight to our hearts.
JP loves his sisters and his actions would show what it means to stand with character. Last night his sister and him were home alone. His sister was taking a shower. Something didn't seem right. He checked on her. She was laying in the tub unresponsive suffering from an asthma attack. He turned off the water and covered his sister. He called 911. He ran to the neighbors and got help. He stayed with her until the squad arrived. His prompt actions prevented a potentially fatal incident. JP, who drives me nuts from time to time, was quick to respond following safety protocols to save his sister.
I no longer felt overwhelmed. My perceived burdens floated away. Often what we stress about is truly just stuff. JP taught us all that what really matters is what we do out of kindness and love to help someone in need. He saved a life through love. He stood with charter and earned the right to be called a hero.
Children always teach me more than I will ever teach them.
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