Surfing to Success

Surfing to Success

Silence

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Silence.

Silence would not be a word used to describe me.

People who know me would probably be surprised to find out that I was a pretty quite, somewhat shy kid.  It drove my dad nuts that I was shy and he worked hard to help me become confident.  I began to come out of my shell by high school.  I pushed myself out of that shell by performing in plays.  It became easy for me to stand on a stage and be someone else.
But, by my freshman year in college, I had made a promise to myself.  I would not be afraid to speak up.  I would not be silent.
I remember the moment.  I finished reading Elie Wiesel’s Night.  As a Auschwitz survivor, his words were moving.  The horrors of what children and adults went through… I didn’t want to believe it could be real.  I looked inside the front cover and there was a quote that prompted my personal promise not to be silent.
“In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist.  Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.  Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist.  Then they came for the Catholics and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant.  Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.”  – Pastor Martin Niemoeller, 1945
When I made the promise to speak up, I had no idea how many difficult conversations were going to be in my future.  I’ve learned to be a bit more tactful as the years go on, but the value of standing up for others has become a core part of who I am.
As teachers, we pass on who we are to our students.  This week I was working with 6th graders who need to learn how to cite sources using quotes and paraphrasing.  Looking back, I see that one of the quotes I chose reflects this core value so clearly.
If you’ve ever taught paraphrasing, you know that students try to take the idea of using different words in a different order too literally.  At first, students were writing, “The noiselessness of our friends is remembered not the argument of our enemies.”  Sigh.
We pulled together and related the quote to our lives and discussed the meaning before trying to paraphrase again.  Here’s a paraphrase from after our discussion.
Even though my objective revolved around paraphrasing, I brought my values into my lesson.
We are teachers, every moment is multi-tasked, right?
As I’ve been reflecting this weekend, I realize that I chose that quote because it reminds me of my promise to myself and some of the words Elie Wiesel spoke.
This weekend, I saw some discussions about what is happening in schools in Detroit.  The teachers have started a social media campaign and are asking for support. They started #SupportDPSteachers and #DPSteachersfightback .
If you haven’t heard about what is happening, read this. Check out the pictures linked below.  Words can not adequately describe what the conditions in the schools look like.

 

Teachers and students shouldn’t be in these conditions.

Right now, all we have is our voice.  You can add your voice by signing this petition.  You can also pass on the importance of speaking up to your students.

Normally, I use things in my classroom for a while and tweak it before I share it.  But, I’ve decided to share the page with the MLK, Jr. quote now before the whole product is complete.  You can download it here.  I’d like you to be able to begin a discussion about silence with your students.  Maybe sharing some of the pictures of the school in Detroit will make them want to speak up, too.

Thank you, Retta from Rainbow City Learning for encourage us to speak up by hosting this linky.  Thank you Tamara from Mrs. Russell’s Room for sharing the article that made me aware of what was happening.

 

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