A Letter of Hope
Dear Students,
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you. This nasty thing called Covid has kept me away from being with you. I’m older than I was the last time you saw me. I miss telling you all the stories I have been learning and the writing I used to share. I miss your help with my writing through your suggestions and appreciations.
I’ve been watching you all from afar and seeing you grow. I wish I could see you in person.
I would be amiss if I didn’t mention what you may be missing in my absence. When I left you, you were being taught skills for life. Alas, some of what I saw was of all of you learning the same thing in the same way. I recall the day I was there when a consultant came in to teach all your teachers how to improve writing instruction. In his demo lesson, he said, “Today, boys and girls, we are going to do some free writing, and this is how we do it.?” He then went on to show you step by step how and what he wanted you to write. Free writing?
I’ve seen more and more of this kind of teaching. “Here is how you write an essay.” “Here is how you write a report.” “This is what I want to see in everyone’s paper.”
I want you to remember that you have a creative mind. You don’t have to follow the rules. Using your imagination is not a bad thing. If you stop being creative, you may lose that ability to innovate and create change.
Believe in your own abilities to do good, make wise decisions, and create a better world. Yes, you will make mistakes, but learn from them.
Don’t end your science experiments with “This is what I found.” Add on, “And this is what I plan to do next based on what I learned.”
Once you know the answer to a math problem, see if you can find another way to solve it. Be creative. You don’t always have to follow the prescribed formula.
And most of all, dream big. You all have it in you. Let that creativity come out. Let your brain do a little dance. Let your insights grow. Be the person you are meant to be and inspire us all.
I hope you continue to do well in school and beyond. Someday, I hope to see you all again. Until then…be well and stay safe.
Your friend and ex-teacher,
Mr. H.
