This post is not so much about Math. I am essentially treating this as a place to release some thoughts.
Just some disconnected and unorganized thoughts.
I had an interesting time growing up. Long story short, no parents around, took care of my younger brother since I was 12 or 13... etc.
Maybe as a result of this, I have always cared a lot about the well-being of others. It is especially the case for the students that I get to know, teach, and listen to. I even try to build opportunities in the class to discuss the "important" and "heavy" aspects of life.
Not good enough.
I have always tried hard to reach out to students that are having a hard time. I tried to build up their confidence within class, or try to establish groups that are beneficial for them.
Not good enough.
I've had students seek my advice about difficult situations. I listen, I gather support for them, I help them where I can.
Not good enough.
Some students that I can't reach at all. They get on the defensive whenever I approach for conversation. Maybe it is because the environment I build is simply not good enough. Or maybe because I am simply not good enough.
Even the students I do reach, that do feel comfortable with me, what I do is STILL not good enough. I haven't solved their problems. I haven't changed their lives and prevented their hardships. I haven't given them enough reasons to stand up or to smile. Besides being there to listen, support, and connect them to parties that can actually do something -- I've done nothing.
Or at least it feels like nothing to me.
Colleagues tell me "you can't save everyone," or "some just can't be saved."
But I refuse these words.
It is simply not good enough.
It is not up to you to solve their problems. They get our support in making good choices, in being offered help in whatever form is needed and in knowing that we are there for them. But we can't live their lives - they need to make their own choices and sometimes those will be the wrong ones. We do the best we can. We don't give up on them. We make sure they know that. And that has to be good enough.
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of this except where you doubt if you (or we) are simply not good enough. Wanting in on the big problems is important and good. Not accepting the status quo isn't good enough, but it is a good start.
ReplyDeleteI think it is an unfortunate and inevitable part of being human - not being "good" enough.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your words. I will continue to try and try harder -- even if it's not good enough. Not because I have to -- but because I want to.
Sometimes I remind myself that what I do may not be good enough, but it's good enough for now.
ReplyDeleteI just completed a 3-day workshop "On Course", in which Deb Poise explained to me that enabling is not the same as empowering. So, our job as instructors and teachers is not to enable but to empower our students to become problem-solvers and eventually they grow to solve their own problems, mathematical as well as non-mathematical.
ReplyDeleteHere is the link to the web site that suggests various activities that deal with empowering students to get back On Course under your guidance.
http://www.oncourseworkshop.com/Student%20Success%20Strategies.htm