My Nonpolitical Statement

“When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.” -John Lewis

Looking back at the past it’s hard to understand why slavery was ever a thing and why someone would say hateful or harmful things to another person based on the color of their skin. I would like to think if I lived back then I would be on the right side of history.

However, after recent events in our divided country I am fearful of standing up too loudly for what I believe is right because I am afraid of losing my job for posting something “too political.” It makes me feel like a rock is crushing my soul because in my mind acceptance, justice, and equity shouldn’t be political but it feels like it is.

Yet, not saying anything at all feels like being a bystander in a bullying situation. I see the bully doing the bullying and yet I stand and just watch it happen. I do not want to be a bystander and not feel like I’m standing up for a just cause.

So here is my nonpolitical statement of what I hope happens when I teach my students…

I want my students to feel like they can trust democracy and believe there is more good than evil in the world. I want them to think critically, do the research, and learn through multiple sources of news, books and articles. Yet for them to also know we only ever know so much and things can and will change.

I want my students to know we are never done learning or growing. I want them to know that it’s OK that who we were years ago can be different than who we are now. Mistakes are tool for growth not destruction.

I want to them to understand before shouting to be understood, to have knowledge over fear, and to live a life of love not hate.

Those are my only wishes and hopes. If we can teach the world to do these things maybe we can find peace and understanding.