Saturday, March 24, 2018

When Marching today, please remember those who can't or don't understand.

March 24th, 2018 is the day that many students will gather in the nation's capital to voice their concerns over school shootings and school safety protocols. All over this nation, young people who will be able to vote soon, will stand up and let their voices be heard in respect to all those who have lost their lives to school shootings. This takes courage and bravery to stand up to the establishment and tell it, it needs to work on a lot things. Within this process, I want to make it clear that not all students are able to let their voices be heard. Not all students, who have been affected by school shootings or the safety protocols, have a voice or the means to be able to make it down to the marches occurring today. For those who are participating in the March for Our Lives, please remember those students in your chants, your thoughts and your movement.

A couple of weeks ago, when the shooting down in Parkland occurred, I wrote about what kind of impact that would have on the type of classroom I work in. For those who haven't been following, I work in a classroom with special need students. While on that same day, we also had our own incident, everything was put into perspective for myself and my coworkers that day. It became very clear to us, that even with everything done right, we would be the first targets, if and when something like a school shooting was to occur. As much as we would all do our best to maintain the safety of our students, there would be absolutely no way we could make them understand the severity of a situation of a school shooting. Most of them are not going to understand why we are cramped in a bathroom and that the playing the "Silent Game" isn't going to work. We love these kiddos like they are our own, but when you are talking about kids who see the world differently than the rest of us, it is very hard to make them understand the severity of situations. It doesn't matter how many times we do drills for these types of things.

I am very proud of the youth today. I am proud that so many want to make sure their voices are heard. For me though, I hope that many of them don't forget about the students like the kiddos in my class. These Kids deserve to have the right to have their lives protected. They deserve to have someone remember that they are still here and are trying to learn, just like the rest of the general classrooms. While I know there are some down in DC and all over the nation, who are like my kiddos out there marching, I wanted people to keep in mind, that not all have a voice and that they too, need someone to champion for their right to live and be able to learn in a safe environment.

My plan was to be just one voice for my students today, along side my eldest son. We got sidelined by an injury. While my eldest wanted to be part of this march as it was something that was important to him as student, I wanted to raise my voice in support to all those who can't. Every child deserves to have a safe academic environment.

So today on  March 24, 2018, when we are listen to the voice of the youth, please remember to lend yours to those who might not have a voice today. Please remember to lend your voice to those who might not be physically able to march today, as they all deserve the same amount of respect as everyone else.

Friday, March 9, 2018

International Day of Women... International Year of Women.

I am a day late. I know. Its ok. It gives me time to sit and think about what I want to write about regarding yesterday. Yesterday, if you didn't know was the International Day of Women. I celebrated that day at a field trip with my special needs son, not that important, but that is how I observed a day to celebrate not just my gender, but all those who made it possible for my gender to be able to do the things my gender is able to do.

As I sat around in a room full of amphibians and reptiles, listening to how myself and others can help the environment and protect our planet, I made the observation that all the instructors we had, were indeed Women. Women who knew exactly what they were talking about. Intelligent women, in a field that is normally dominated by men,(let's face it there aren't a lot of women who have a keen interest in things like snakes, spiders and crocs, I wish there were!)As I continued to sit there and make sure my son's stimming wasn't on overload, I lamented that all of the teachers on this trip, were also women. Every single one of them. Then like magic it got me thinking about the work environment I work in. While we do have male teachers, most of the faculty is made of Women, myself included. While in the past, the teaching profession was at one time, one of the only professions a woman could have gotten, it got me thinking to the roles that have expanded from that. For example, I am fortunate enough to work in a school where both my top admin are women, not saying that a male admin isn't just as awesome, but it is nice to see the roles that women once had, have evolved and have expanded. And of course I kept thinking...

See this is how my mind works. I get started on one basic thought and it expands, till I am pondering the mysteries of the universe. Back to Women.  I have always loved history. The good, the bad and the ugly. I have always thought that history is a gateway into seeing how we have become the people we are today. What has shaped us, helped us learn and who has been significant in those roles. Role Models. Sitting in the jungle of snakes and spiders, I thought about who in our history have been a momentous influence on shaping the women we have today. While I tend to look at the trailblazers like the Suffragettes, or the women who basically told the male dominated field they worked in " Not today, sir, not today.Today is mine and mine alone."I thought about my own personal heroines. The ones that have helped me discover my own womanhood. The ones who made me proud to say that "I am Woman, HEAR ME ROAR!" I have so many in my 40 years on this planet. There are women who stood up for what they thought was right. There are women who quietly guided me to understanding my potential. I firmly believe that every woman, young women and girls out there need to have someone out there to show them that potential.

While yesterday was the International Day of Women, it should be noted that 2018 should be the Year of the Woman. We saw the spark of it last year, starting with the Women's March. From then, the #Metoo movement evolved and blossomed. The #Timesup initiative going strong. A lot more women becoming stronger and brave to stand up for themselves, as well as for those who do not have the courage just yet to speak out. We have seen the young women of Parkland FL, look Senators, law makers and bigwig corporations in the face and say "We will not stand for this". Young women who will be voting soon. We are seeing more women in politics, taking a stand against those who wish to take all that has been fought for, for the last 100 years.  Women in 2018 have become a force to be reckoned with. The world has started to take note.

I go back to the women standing before me talking about how to properly hold crocodile. There was one point in time where she wouldn't be standing up there talking about crocodiles, as it wouldn't have been "Proper" for a woman to even be in a field where she was touching and understanding an animal.

So to all the naysayers who want to tear down the spirit of a fighting woman, try it. Our voice is only going to get louder, braver and stronger.

For those who are still fighting for themselves and their womanhood, don't ever stop. Remember that the world is watching and somewhere there is a little girl out there who will or does look up to you.

Remember who taught you how to value your worth. Those who showed you your potential. Today and every day, remember you are worth it.

Back to crocodile handling, as I got to hold on to an awesome little female croc, named Wally.