Locks of Love
LCOR39° 28.755′N
74° 59.919′W
It is easy to get down as a public school teacher. Our work is public. Our budget is the last that disgruntled taxpayers have a say in. We are the cause for all that is wrong with society and the dumping ground to fix everything else.
When teachers face layoffs, programs are cut, and morale is low, we can read about $12,000+ raises for our bosses. We administer invalid examinations because we are told to do so.
It is easy to be despondent.
Sometimes when the doldrums are present, a glimmer of light shines. This is one of my students. She is a beacon!
I play silly GPS games. It’s an amusement for me. I share some of my exploits with my students. They like it that their teacher plays hide-and-seek. They’ll ask if I went hiking, what I found, etc.
Knowing that one of my scavenger hunt “needs” was, I received a note today to meet Sally (not her real name) after school at Douglas Arthur Salon. I know the place well; my wife and daughter frequent this establishment.
An unexpected blizzard appeared this afternoon. Okay, it wasn’t a blizzard, but snow was falling and accumulating at a good clip. I would be late arriving home and time with my own children was being deferred. It was worth every minute of it.
Sally was at the salon to donate 11 inches of her hair to Locks of Love. Her brother and mother were there and we all celebrated her charity.
This fourth grader is not a novice with Locks of Love. She never used to like to get her hair cut and apparently was a bit difficult when the subject came up. But in second grade she heard of Locks of Love from somewhere and wanted to participate. Her parents did not urge her. Her teachers did not encourage her. Sally, on her own as a seven-year-old, decided to provide this gift.
It’s been nearly two years and her hair has grown out enough to donate again. Donations must be at least 10 inches. It takes about 25 donations to weave a wig. The wig is provided to children who have cancer. Sally was eager for the trim.
I could tell all sorts of stories about how smart Sally is, how she helps out in class, how she pushes herself to be the best student she can be. Some might look at her and speak about how she will be somebody when she grows up. Hardly. She is somebody right now!
Sally’s heart is as big as anyone’s I know. She’s nine. This teacher is so proud.
Also blogged on this date . . .
- Nano Hazard - 2008
- MLB Frustration - 2007
- The Politics Around Me - 2006
Tags: Cumberland, GPS Games, neverending-scavenger-hunt, New Jersey, TerraCaching
By Zooomabooma on Jan 16, 2008
“It is easy to get down as a public school teacher.” When becoming a teacher, is there a dance requirement and that’s why it’s so easy for teachers to get down? Ba dum bum. Thank you. Please tip your waitress generously, I’ll be here all week.
On a serious note — I read this post three times now and I could read it a dozen more. It’s wonderful! Bob, your student sounds like such a great kid to do something so nice for others. We need more of that in the world. We may be the most giving country on the planet from both our government (money which is often wasted) as well as from our citizens (which is often managed much better) … but we could really do so much more. I see a great nation but with so much selfishness. Whether it’s 11″ of hair, an hour of our time, or $5, so many of us could do a little more. Even people who think, “I don’t have any extra money to give” — yes, if they did a little budgeting, if they opened their eyes to the needs of people here in the U.S. and even more so elsewhere, maybe they’d care a little more, and they could do more. Many just don’t want to and that has a lot to do with the society we live in where more for ourselves is better, at least it seems that’s what’s drilled into us. Sometimes I feel like the oddball out who wants less for self and to do as much as I can for others.
Reading about your student, even though she’s just one of 300,000,000 and growing, it gives me hope. I pray she does great things in her life and that she can be an inspiration to others around her to see this world and not want for self but want to help others in some way.
Great post!!