L – Librarians: Can we live without them?

Posted on April 13, 2018 by hdh

Librarians…They’re expendable?

Minna and Lina were having lunch one day in the school cafeteria. Lina was bemoaning the fact that their school district had eliminated the elementary school librarian’s position the previous year. “What are we supposed to do during Library time now, since there is no longer a librarian to guide us?”

Minna wasn’t as concerned. “Why do you need a librarian? The library is for getting books. There’s still a library clerk and a library aide. They can check out books, work the computers to see who has what book out, and pretty well know what books are available if kids need help. Besides the digital catalog (OPAC) knows all the books. Kids can just search like we do to find books they like and see if those books are in. Besides, the cost saved by not having a librarian can be used to buy more materials and even support personnel for the classroom. Seems like a no-brainer cost saving method.”

Lina wasn’t appeased. “And who do you think is going to teach the students how to do those searches on the computer? Who’s going to be knowledgeable about the books, not only in the library but which new ones to purchase?”

“Can’t the teachers do that?” Minna responded. “They can read reviews and make recommendations. I’m sure one lesson in their computer labs with their students should be enough to teach their kids how to use OPAC.”

“And what part of their curriculum do you think they should drop in order to add this to their day?” Lina was getting more flustered. “The reason that librarians are now called library-media specialists is that they are trained to do so much more. It’s a full-time job to read reviews on all the new books that come out each year. They need to balance what are the best books to purchase that the district can afford. At an early age, they need to teach children not only how to search out information, for reports and such, but also how to discriminate between fact and opinion, real and fake information. They also have to show students how to cite their sources and give credit where credit is due. This is a lot more than just handing out and collecting books. And a lot more than teachers can add to their plate.”

Minna still wasn’t convinced. “How to cite sources? What kind of Masters theses are first graders going to do? They can wait until high school to learn those skills. That’s why they are keeping the librarian in the high school.”

Lina responded, “Would you like to know why so many students in middle and high school have so much trouble with plagiarizing notes and copying text right out of a book or off the internet?  Because they were not taught at an early age to give credit to those that help them. In my class, if a parent, brother, sister, uncle, friend and so on, does anything to help a student with an assignment or project, the student has to write down that person’s name as a source, even if all they did was to write the title of the report for the student. You’re never too young to acknowledge a source.”

Minna had to stop and think about that. “I guess that is a good way to learn the skill. But do you need a librarian to do that?”

“In that instance, you don’t. Everyone should be teaching that. But a librarian is a major player in a school, especially in an elementary school. Having one allows the classroom and specials teachers to focus on using research to gather information and get their students to work on independent learning projects with the assurance that those students will have the skills (taught by a librarian) to do the research. 

 

It allows both students and teachers to have an important resource for new reading material both in fiction and non-fiction, that have been selected with their needs in mind. As technology improves and becomes more prevalent in society, it allows everyone to keep up with it and use it to its fullest extent.”

All Minna could do was listen and try to internalize what she had just heard….and finish her lunch.

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K – Kan you explane Inglish cpelling

Posted on April 12, 2018 by hdh

Kan’t Kreate Korrect Cpelling

Otto was furious. “What is with this stupid language! Why can’t letters that have sounds be used to spell things with the same sounds?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Herman.

Otto wailed, “Did you ever try to write down something that starts with the sound of a ‘K’ only to discover that it doesn’t begin with a ‘K’ at all? I’m trying to write a blog about Cuckoo Clocks and found out that cuckoo doesn’t start with a K. That is quite annoying.”

“The English language can be quite difficult to understand. There are a lot of spelling rules you need to know and pronunciations, not to mention exceptions to those rules.”

Otto’s reaction was short. “Was that ‘quite’ with a ‘K’?” All I’m saying is that a language and spelling should be based on sounds equals letters.”

“I feel your pain,” Herman replied.

Otto went on, “Celery has an ‘s’ sound for the ‘C’ so why isn’t ‘carrot’ pronounced ‘sarrot’? And what about ‘center’, why doesn’t a horse ‘santer’ when he’s at a slow gallop? There’s only one letter different!”

Herman thoughtfully replied, “Now that you’ve given me those examples, it is easy to figure out a rule that should solve all your problems. If the ‘c’ is followed by an ‘e’ or ‘i’, you pronounce the ‘c’ like an ‘s’.  All other ‘c’ words sound like a ‘k’.”

“That just adds to my point,” Otto yelled, “Why do we need a ‘c’ at all in the English language, when either an ‘s’ or ‘k’ will do?”

All Herman could say was, “Why don’t you just bring it up with the dictionary people.”

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J – Jocks

Posted on April 11, 2018 by hdh

Want to play ball?

Minna just came back from a soccer game. She works with the sixth grade team as a helper, providing refreshments and is also trained in first aid, should it be needed. From the look of things, she was quite pleased with day’s events.

“Our team won,” she shouted as she entered the house. “It was great, there was a big crowd. You should have heard the coach screaming at the kids. He knows how to push them to do their best. It’s great to win.”

Herman wasn’t as excited, he’d been through this before. “Losing is part of the game too. How do you think the kids on the other team felt?”

“Their coach was just as loud. Kids need to be pushed to succeed. I’m sure they were disappointed, but they’ll bounce back. You know how important sports are to a well-rounded individual,” Minna said.

Herman sighed. “But sports is not a be all and end all for kids. Some kids do gravitate to sports, but others prefer music, arts, writing, even academics rather than be a jock.”

Minna wasn’t fazed. “I disagree, you just have to see look on those kids faces as their parents are cheering them on. They love it. Sports is great for their self-esteem.”

“Not if you’re not into sports,” repeated Herman. “What if you’re always on a losing team? What if your parents are the ones that are into sports and are pushing you when you’d rather be doing something else? Sure you may look happy and feel good after a win. But is that because you feel good about yourself, or you feel good that your parents are giving you approval?”

“I’m not sure about that,” was Minna’s reply. “There’s nothing wrong with feeling good because your parents are proud of you.”

“Yes, but then you’re learning to do things like sports for them, not for yourself.”

Minna wasn’t convinced. “If that is so, then that would hold true for music and art also.”

“Probably,” Herman reacted. “But kids should not be pushed into things that they are not comfortable with. You can make them join teams to test out if it’s for them, but if their interests are elsewhere, they should be allowed to stop and pursue those interests. Not everyone is meant to be a jock. Only a small percentage of those will actually make it to the pros. Then there is also the research that shows that some contact sports should not be played at all by children until they are much older. There are long-lasting effects of injuries incurred in ones so young.”

Minna could see Herman’s point and she was aware of the pressure that some parents and coaches put on kids to always win and keep playing even when the kids themselves were into other pursuits. “I guess all you can do is worry about your own children. Give them the opportunity to try all different kinds of activities and hope that they find a niche for themselves.”

“For once you and I are on the same page,” Herman agreed.

 

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I – Idiosyncrasies: Will you stop doing that!

Posted on April 10, 2018 by hdh

Will you stop doing that!

Otto and Lina were having a conversation over dinner one night.

Otto started with, “You know about that light thing, you know, you do all the time. You know, the one with which way, you know, the light switch should be for ‘on’ and, you know, which way for ‘off’?”

Lina had to stop him. “Will you stop saying, ‘YOU KNOW’! You say it all of the time.”

“I do not!” Otto replied, “and anyway, you know, what I was saying about the light switches. You’re really obsessed.”

Giving up on the ‘you know’ point, Lina said, “It’s not a thing. When the light is ‘on’ the switch should be up, and when the light is ‘off’, the switch should be down. Everyone should know that.”

“Well, I disagree. It doesn’t make a difference which way the switch is, it’s just a bad habit of yours.” Otto went on, “Like when, you know, you obsess over all the computer tech you have to have. If what you are using works, why do you need a new tech upgrade all of the time.”

Lina got more defensive. “I do not obsess about new technology, I wasn’t the one that got the newest device if I recall. Sometimes newer technology is better for the work you do. You would notice if you weren’t watching sports every day. It’s a shame that hockey and baseball season overlap. There’s just no break.”

Otto just let that slide with a, “you do watch with me if you haven’t noticed. And what about those puzzles you play all of the time. Research has shown that doing crossword puzzles and word searches don’t prevent dementia. Get a life, spend some time in the real world.”

“Yeah the real world,” said Lina. “In the real world, men wear colored socks other than white. If there is anyone not in the real world, it’s you.”

“I’m always in the real world. Why is it in your real world you always look for and talk with anyone you know from school, you know, no matter where we are? They have lives too, you know,” was Otto’s retort.

“It’s a good thing I love you for some of the things that are special about you,” Lina said with a smile.

“Yeah. It’s a good thing. Same here.” Otto was quick to respond. “Neither of us is perfect, but I’m glad we have each other. Our idiosyncrasies are what make us unique, good and bad. And there’s always hope that someday I’ll be able to change you into my way of thinking…You know.”

“Not if I change you first.” This was followed by peals of laughter on both sides.

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Author’s note: Lest you all think that this is based on a real conversation between my wife and me, discussing our idiosyncrasies, it’s not. I should point out, however, that the idiosyncrasies are real even though the people are fictional. They’re all mine.

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H – Do you have your homework?

Posted on April 9, 2018 by hdh

Did you do your homework?

Otto’s and Herman’s wives both worked in the same elementary school. Lina, Otto’s wife, was a 5th grade classroom teacher, whereas Minna, Herman’s wife, was a teacher’s assistant in 6th grade. Minna had a child in Lina’s class. Outside of school, they were friends and often got to talking about school issues. Today’s discussion was about “homework”.

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Minna was annoyed. “I can’t understand why teachers give students so much homework? Kids work all day in school. Home should be a time when they can turn off their school heads and relax and be just kids!”

Lina replied, “School time only gives you a short period of time to impart skills necessary to become lifelong learners. If they are only allowed to think in school, then when they go out into the real world they will be unprepared to deal with it.”

“That may be true,” answered Minna, “but teachers are not consistent. Some teachers give students the same work that they have done in school. That certainly is not teaching them anything new. Other teachers give them totally new things that they will discuss the next day in class. They call it the “Flipped Classroom”. I call it the “Flipped teacher.”  How can they do work that they’ve never seen before if they have no experience dealing with it? And then there are those that give piles of homework because they are told that is what they have to do. Half the time they don’t even go over it.”

“Teachers work with what works best for them and what helps reinforce the work that they are doing,” said Lina. “Homework is meant to help solidify the work that they are doing. Flipped classrooms rarely require much work done on things they don’t understand. It usually involves videos and lessons that teach a skill. Students that do have difficulty with understanding, at least have a framework of the knowledge they are supposed to have so that they can ask relevant questions when they are re-taught and reinforced in the skills the following day.”

Minna thought about that for a while and thought about her own daughter. “Why is your method of assigning homework so different from most teachers?”

“In some respects, I’m more concerned about the life-learning skills my students leave my class with than the content of the material they learn,” replied Lina. “My homework policy is time-based, not content-based. My students, as you well know, have to do 45 minutes of homework a night, whether I assign it or not. They are not to work more than an hour on anything unless they desire to. A note from you is all they need to tell me that they worked an hour. In this way, the hope is that they become self-directed. If they finish my assigned task in 15 minutes, they need to think of what they can do for rest of the 45 minute homework time. Practice math, start a project, do some writing or reading (within limits), be creative. It’s up to them. Your daughter can never say to you “I have no homework”. Your reply is simple, “So, what do you plan to do for your 45 minutes.” If a lot of them are working more than an hour or stopping at an hour, that is an indication to me that I need to adjust how I’m teaching the material.”

“And what does this teach them?” Minna questioned again.

“I hope it teaches them that next year when they go to 6th grade and get a lot more work and long-term projects, they can think ahead and plan their own time to do things on time because they’ve had the practice in 5th grade.”

Minna still looked frustrated. “That sounds good, but unless everyone is doing it and the next grade teachers follow up with it, it’s like everything else in teaching. You teach the students to be self-directed learners and the next year instead of building on those skills they learned in previous years, they just wait until their new teacher tells them how they are to think and learn that year.”

“Sadly, that’s the way of education,” Lina agreed.

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Author’s note: Homework was always an issue in all my years of teaching, at a teaching level, parent level, administrative and Board of Education level. Homework policy was constantly being looked at and changed. Only in my last few years of teaching did I adopt the method that Lina was doing in her class. Sadly, if I was teaching today, that method would be more difficult to use, given the number of mandates in curriculum and testing that are being placed on schools.

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G – Inch by Inch, Row by Row, Gonna’ make this garden grow

Posted on April 7, 2018 by hdh

Inch by Inch, Row by Row, Gonna’ Make This Garden Grow*

It was a bright sunny day. The temperature was on the chilly side for this early in April, but it was still warm enough for Herman to be out in his cooperative share garden to work and try to get some seeds planted for the upcoming year. It looked like the garlic he had planted last fall had taken and that he would have a good crop this year. As he was digging away, his friend/nemesis Otto happened to pass by.

“Why do you waste your time each year trying to plant vegetables when you know that very few of them will flourish?” Otto remarked. “ Even when your plants flourish, it’s a waste. Remember last year’s garlic crop? You actually got a good number of bulbs and what happened? You didn’t store them properly and they all dried out before you could use them all. That’s 2 years in a row for garlic!”

“Think of the plants that do produce,” Herman replied, “those homegrown tomatoes were great. And you don’t get peas like that in the supermarket. It takes a little effort to plant and care for this garden, but the rewards of having food that you’ve produced yourself are worth it.”

Otto held back a laugh. “Definitely worth it…if you are a mole, or rabbit, or just some passerby that sees an unprotected garden ripe for the picking. Remember that edamame you planted last year, moles loved that. And how about the string beans and squash? That was the best and tastiest; ask any of the squash bugs and bean beetles, they loved killing your plants. Oh, and don’t forget the butternut squash you planted that bugs didn’t get; You watched them grow until it was just about picking time and someone else beat you to it. So much for community sharing.”

On this, Herman agreed. “Yeah, those were very frustrating plantings, but each helped us adjust our plantings the following year. No beans, no squashes or edamame this year. We’re looking different plants to try. Some of our plants do well each year. We’ve had success with turnips, beets, peas, and tomatoes.”

“Turnips and beets work because no one else will eat them. Your peas only work during the spring crop; the late summer crop is always sparse. As to your tomatoes, the only ones you’ve had success with were the rogue ones that grew up out of your compost soil. No one knows where those seeds came from, and you didn’t have to do anything except thin them out. With all the local farm stands around here, wouldn’t it be easier just to buy the finished product rather than take all that time and effort to grow your own?”

Herman was steadfast in his opinion. “Yes, it would be easier, but it wouldn’t be mine. Food tastes so much better when you grow it and cook it yourself. If I had my way I would have my own garden at home, where I could fence it in and protect all of the work I do. Unfortunately there too many trees and not enough space to grow plants.”

As Otto was leaving he left his final thoughts.”And, it would make great salad bowls for the local deer population. Whatever floats your boat. I, personally, will continue to buy my fruits and vegetables from farm stands and supermarkets. A lot less work for me and more time to do the things I want to do. I’ll be going home now; there’s that new series on Netflix I need to binge watch.”

* from the “Garden Song” by David Mallet ©1975
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F – What was that forecast again?

Posted on April 6, 2018 by hdh

It’s going to snow…or rain…or probably be sunny?

The Forecaster said what?

I was at a meteorological convention the other day when I ran into my two favorite forecasters Otto and Herman. Otto is the local newscaster for WOMG-TV and Herman is the local weatherman for TV station WIDK. They were having a heated conversation which I didn’t want to interrupt, but couldn’t help but overhear.

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“I don’t know why they pay you any money for the guesswork you do predicting the

weather,” shouted Otto, “What do you use, a crystal ball? I’d get new batteries if I were you, it’s rarely correct.”

Herman wasn’t too insulted as he was used to Otto’s complaints. “I analyze the weather patterns as I was taught to in school. There is always a degree of error involved in predicting the weather. Mother Nature is not always consistent.”

Otto retorted, “And what school was that? Elementary school? Come on I can stick my head out of the window, look at the sky and be just as accurate as you. You love showing

 

those big maps and radar and scientific stuff to justify your claims. It’s a shame that Mother Nature hasn’t read the same manuals.”

“I’ll have you know that it takes a minimum of 4 years for a Bachelor of Science degree to be a meteorologist.” Herman reacted, “Many meteorologists pursue Masters of Science, even doctoral degrees. We don’t just sit back and play with our Magic 8-Balls. We study patterns over time. There are lots of different projections that coalesce as we get closer to an event so our predictions become more reliable.”

Otto scowled, “Then why don’t you wait until they are reliable before you give out your predictions? Other than to panic people about a rainy day, what purpose is there in giving a 10-day forecast, if you don’t really know what is going to happen until the day before?”

“Meteorology is a science and should be treated as one. People need to know that we don’t just pick predictions out of the air. They need to understand the process to better understand the prediction. When you learned math in school were you just given the answers or were you taught what the process was to discover the correct answer yourself? Knowing the process builds a better understanding.”

Otto waved that one off. “Don’t get me started on math, that’s for another discussion. If your process is so good, then why are there so many different models and predictions? Shouldn’t everyone seeing the same data come up with the same results.?”

Herman hesitated for a moment on that one. “That would seem to be correct, but  depending on what you use as relevant data and what tools and historical events you use to make your prediction, you might get different answers.”

“Then why don’t you all get together and agree on standards of data and history to use or work on developing new technology that is more accurate?” Otto continued to push.

Herman was quick with that answer. “What makes you think we are not advancing our field of expertise. Our weather predictions have become much more reliable as we develop new techniques for both gathering information and analyzing our past.”

Otto snarked, “Probably doesn’t hurt your ratings either?”

At this point, they both became too frustrated with the whole conversation and the topic was dropped, as most of their discourses usually are.  

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As for me I basically wait to see what the day is like. When I wake up, I deal with whatever Mother Nature has planned for me. Let all those others watch their daily weather updates and forever change their plans for each right or wrong prediction.

C’est la vie!

 

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E – Educate or Regurgitate

Posted on April 5, 2018 by hdh

Educate or Regurgitate

I’ve been an educator for the past 45 years. I’ve experienced everything from the Open Classroom concept of the 70s, to the Cognitive Level Matching concepts of the 80s, to the Writing project in the 90s, to the Project Based Learning of the 2000s, to the Common Common Core Standards of today. There have been a lot of changes, some for the good and others not so good. As it would happen, my good friends, Herman and Otto were just talking about those changes the other day. I’ll let you listen in on their conversation:

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“When I was in school, school was stiff, structured, everyone on the same page,” commented Herman, “I was tracked, so that everyone in my class was at the same academic level. Kids today have so much more freedom and excitement to learn. They’re so lucky.”

Otto was quick to refute. “I started school the same way you did. I was with my buddies throughout most of school. We learned whatever we felt like learning. Now that was freedom. Hey, if I didn’t want to read a book, I read the Cliff Notes. We didn’t worry about plagiarizing things, there was no ‘Turn Me In’ to check up on us. Nowadays kids don’t even get to sit an listen to a book being read to them without being interrupted with questions like, “Can anyone make a connection?” or “What do you predict this character is going to do?” This whole education process is focussed on everyone has to think deeply all the time. There’s no time to sit back and enjoy.”

“But look at the writing that is coming out of these children,” Herman said. “It is much more detailed and expanded than anything we wrote at that age.”

“That’s if you like reading the same styles, written in the same voice, by everyone on the same grade level.” Otto was adamant, “Just listen to their pieces. They all sound the same! Where’s the creativity? Where’s the breaking of the rules? Where’s the uniqueness in what they do?”

Herman had to think for a while. “Maybe as they get older and have learned all these fundamentals they will be able to branch out and try different things to expand their abilities and create new styles of writing.”

Otto just smirked. “And maybe the moon is made of cheese. Who knows, we haven’t been there since the 70s; things might have changed.  Even in the 70s through 90s we were allowed to explore and experiment. Technology gave us new ways to present our thoughts. Today it’s just here are benchmarks we all have to reach before the State tests.”

There does seem to be a lot more testing today, at least in English and Math. But isn’t having a good foundation of skills important. Shouldn’t all students have the opportunity to have the same education and at least experience the same concepts?” Herman seemed less sure of himself.

“There’s no reason students shouldn’t receive the same education and experiences,” Otto agreed, “However they should receive it when they’re ready, not just because they reached a certain age or grade. Give me the type of learning that I got in the 70s and 80s when there weren’t as many standards and teachers had more freedom to teach to their strengths and explore new ways to make learning exciting.  That’s the freedom I liked and what got me to do lots of things I wouldn’t have thought of doing.”

Herman’s head was spinning. In thinking back on his days of learning, he kind of missed the special projects that he did and still remembered, the pieces of writing he shared, and all of the things he learned. “It sounds like you’ve changed your mind about how school has changed from when you went to school. For once I think we agree. Back when we went to school and schools today have a lot in common. Structured learning, tracking of curriculum, and less and less opportunity to be creative.  Education seems to run in cycles, maybe that style of education will come back”

Otto ended the conversation, “I wouldn’t bet on it happening too soon.”

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Being a retired full-time teacher and now substitute teaching, I’ve seen most of the things that Otto and Herman were talking about. Sad to say it is frustrating at times to see where education is going, knowing where it has been and what it once was. Hopefully, the cycle will come back sooner than later.

If you are interested in watching a TED Talk on the need for Creativity in Education today, I would highly recommend any one given by Sir Ken Robinson https://bit.ly/2GW5NnE  and https://bit.ly/1BFbl7N

 

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D – What’s Up Doc?

Posted on April 4, 2018 by hdh

Otto: I’ve always said that if the bone is not sticking out of your body all doctors are just guessing at what’s wrong with you.

Herman: What makes you say that?

Otto: Every time I go to the doctor with a cough or a rash, they never know what’s wrong with me. They just look at the symptoms and make up some prescription for some ointment or salve with no idea if it is going to cure me or not.

Herman:  They must have some idea. They went to school and interned for so long.

Otto: I’m not sure what they’re learning because whenever I go to the doctor it feels like a crapshoot. That is of course if you’re not bleeding or as I said a bone is sticking out somewhere, then they know what is wrong.

Herman: I have more faith in the medical profession. Whenever I go to the doctor, he takes the time to sit down with me and explain everything to me about what they’ve found and what my options are. It’s very informative.

Otto: I’m not sure who your doctor is, but when I go to my doctor I’m not sure what he’s doing since I have to sit in the waiting room for an hour or more past my appointment time. And when I do get to see him, he may be taking the time to tell me how much he knows about my problem, but he talks so fast and uses all that medical babble that when I leave, I can’t remember much of what he said. They must learn that in school so as not to be held accountable for their actions.

Herman: Waiting a long time is a problem, but that probably is due to all the time they spend with each of their patients. I do find it hard at times to follow what they are saying, but that is why I bring a notepad and pen with me so that I can write things down or have the doctor write it for me.

Otto: Here’s a thought. You know when you call to make an appointment you get that recording that says that, “This call may be recorded for quality assurance”. Well, why can’t we bring recorders with us and use the same tact, “This visit may be recorded for quality assurance”.

Herman: I’m not sure if that is legal. Why not just bring another person in with you to give you a second set of ears.

Otto: That is not always feasible. Besides, there are some diseases and injuries I might not want to share with someone else.

Herman: I can see that.

Otto: And what about follow-ups. Occasionally I will get a call back after my visit asking how I’m doing. But most of the time the doctor has to read my chart to figure out who I am when I get there and once he’s done writing his report, I’m just a mark on a piece of paper. Even though I’ve been going to him for years.

Herman: Doctors have lots of patients, so I can see finding the time to follow up on everyone might be difficult. But you’re right they should care about how you are doing during and following their treatment. Since it seems highly unlikely that doctors can personally follow up on everyone, they should have someone on staff that at least checks up on you.

Otto: Considering what doctors charge, they certainly should have adequate staff to do that. I’m just sick and tired (pun intended) of having to deal with the medical profession. Doctors, waiting times, tests, guess diagnoses, insurance, and drug prices just make me sick.

Herman: If you’re sick then you should see a doctor. Maybe there’s a cure for whatever you have.

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Author’s note: Please excuse the use of “he” for the doctor as a doctor could just as well been a “she”. I’m sure there are lots of you that have similar feelings to both Otto and Herman.

One additional thought I have is, in this age of the internet, where almost too much information about diseases and cures are available, there are issues from doctors of having to deal with too much panic and self-diagnosis when a patient comes to see them. That shouldn’t preclude you doing some research on the Internet before seeing a doctor.  I find it helpful to have enough information to know what questions to ask, rather than to tell my doctor what I have. They still are the experts in their field. But then there is also the well-known riddle – What do you call a doctor who graduated last in his class…

“a doctor”

Your thoughts?

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C – Oh It’s Crying Time Again…

Posted on April 3, 2018 by hdh

Oh, It’s Crying Time Again…

I had to leave my classroom for a short meeting. A substitute was hired to cover my class for the few hours I was away. Unfortunately, this was the same day that our class pet, guinea pig, died. Since I was with the class in the morning we arranged to bury the pet in the woods next to my classroom and held a funeral. Some of the kids in my class were very sad and cried as we all left notes talking about our memories of the guinea pig in the hole that we buried him in and filled it up. One of our students’ parents even went so far as to create a marker for the grave.

That being done the students went back to class and I went to my meeting. When I returned to class some time later, there were still some students upset and a little teary-eyed. What I also discovered was that the substitute teacher added to the upsetness by telling the students to “Get over it! It’s just an animal.”

This got me thinking about a conversation that Otto and Herman once had about crying.

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Otto’s next door neighbor had just passed away.  “You won’t catch me shedding any tears for him. He did it to himself and deserved what he got! Besides, I’m a man, and men don’t cry, only wimps and babies do.” You could hear the self-imposed superiority in his voice. “Crying is a waste of time. There is no point to it. There are other ways to clean out your eyes. If you need to get emotional then you should hit or break something. Now that … releases any sadness you might have.”

Herman was appalled when he heard that. “You have no empathy or compassion! Crying can be scientifically defined as the shedding of your tears in response to an emotional state (author’s note: according to the Science of Tears)  It is a natural response to emotions. When someone dies who is close to you, you’re sad and crying is a normal response, whether you are a man, woman or child. Even pets show emotions when sad. Crying is a way to release emotional stress without the need for violence.”

Otto didn’t seem to care. “What about when you watch a movie and you get all emotional and cry? That makes no sense. You’re crying over something that isn’t even real. They’re actors!”

“Emotions don’t have to only show themselves for real events. Being a person of compassion and empathy means understanding human nature and this means you can be affected by storylines that touch your heart, whether it be a film, a book, or even watching someone else’s sad reaction to an event.”

“That’s not the way I was brought up!” Otto said, “Men don’t cry. It’s dangerous to show your emotions in public. People will think less of you.”

Herman replied, “Then be prepared to have a lot of issues as you grow older. Withholding your true emotions is bad for your health. Crying is a normal outlet for sadness.”

“Can you cry too much?” That’s probably not healthy either,” Otto asked.

“That might mean there is something else that you are not dealing with and should seek help,” was Herman’s response.  “But whether you are a man, a woman, a boy, a girl or even an animal, it’s okay to be sad and it’s perfectly acceptable to cry.”

Was that a tear forming in Otto’s eye? You could see by his expression that he was taking all this in and considering it, possibly questioning what he had been taught. But knowing Otto he wasn’t going to admit it.

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I was somewhat upset at the substitute teacher’s reaction to my student. There’s no time limit on sadness when a child is dealing with death. You need to support them.

And I certainly get teary-eyed when watching sad events unfold. I still can’t understand why I continue to well up on this one Doctor Who episode, that I’ve seen numerous times, when it at the end the main character is trying to explain to her children that their father has died in a WWII plane crash, only to find out that she has saved him. But that’s a different story.

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