I dont want to write a political rant right now (though Im so angry and appalled at our justice system right now), my heart is too heavy. Id rather tell you a human story. This story involves a young man who showed up in my classroom (I teach mindfulness, yoga, meditation to youth at a public high school) about a month ago. A sweet but somewhat troubled kid who seemed, at first, like he was going to be a handful, but who I could tell had a lot to offer. He started off playing class clown, talking out of turn, being disruptive, all the usual ways kids look for attention. Since those 1st few classes, Ive witnessed many other sides to this young man, and found him to be funny, gregarious, playful, and strong... and when I engage him, one-to-one, he always gives me a smile that lights up the whole room. I work in a transfer school, so when a student joins the class mid way through the semester, its often because theyve had issues at a previous school, or family troubles. I believe compassion is the first and best approach when it comes to working with young people, teens, no matter their background or how their behavior triggers me, so I practice taking a soft approach, especially if theyre just coming into a new school, and their world has most likely been upended. This sweet souls certainly has. He is a close relative of Eric Garner, the man who was choked to death by an NYPD officer this summer in Staten Island. I would be furious, if I wasnt so brokenhearted for this student and his family. While our society, our system continues to fail millions, and falls all over itself to accommodate a very elite few, can we remember the human being in all of this?? There is #nopeacewithoutjustice. Truly.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 23:42:59 +0000
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