Teaching Moments – unplanned opportunities to teach values

Russell C. Baskett, Co-Founder and Executive Director

SML Good Neighbors, Inc.

“I’m not comfortable with this. You don’t belong here. We’ve got Donald Trump; we’re building a wall; you need to leave.”

These—or similar words—came from one of our 6^th graders at our 2017 Summer Enrichment Program. She was confronting an SML Good Neighbors teacher who looks different from most people in this area. She is Asian; an international student from China; an outstanding teacher carefully recruited by the Good Neighbors staff.

          When I heard this story from other teachers and volunteers I was   disappointed and angry. This is the antithesis of the values we teach and model. I wanted the student disciplined—the family contacted. We needed to take action! How could we tolerate one of our teachers being humiliated by a student? Then I listened to the rest of the story; the response of the teacher to the student. It went something like this…

                  “I don’t see any Native Americans here today. If you’re not a Native American, you are not from here either. Your ancestors came from somewhere else. Almost everyone in this country came from somewhere else.”

                  Of course the student didn’t much like this response but did get the point. This was a “teaching moment” and the teacher got it just right.

                  The yard sign above expresses the culture and environment of SML Good Neighbors. “No matter where you are from, we’re glad you’re our neighbor.” The week after this incident our daily enrichment theme focused on “Cultural Diversity and Global Education.”  It is our goal to help students appreciate the differences in people; people from other cultures, people who have different languages and practice different religions, people who look different from us and like different things than we do. They are not strangers and not people to fear. They are simply part of the human family to be embraced, valued and loved. That’s the message we try to convey by our words, actions and deeds. The incident with the student who disrespected our teacher was a teaching moment—a time when we could practice what we preach. Our teacher was a master teacher that day.

The symbols of today enable the reality of tomorrow. Notice the swastikas and the other signs of hate. Do not look away, and do not get used to them. Remove them yourself and set an example for others to do so.

Excerpt from “On Tyranny”, pg. 32, by professor Timothy Snyder, 2017

Tabitha's Question

Tabitha’s Question

Why do I do this—the Good Neighbors program work? This is the simple question Tabitha, our social media and marketing assistant, asked. It’s a great question and I need to consider it deeply. Why do I do what I do with SML Good Neighbors? What sustains me in this work? Maybe the rambling thoughts that follow will give you—and me—some insights. It may take patience to read through these thoughts!

This past week was filled with national events that made me anxious—it was the first week of Donald Trump’s presidency. As I listened to friends and over-heard the conversations of others, I understood this was not unique to me. It is easy to get in to a circuitous, downward spiral and lose site of what is most important and right in front of me.

I keep the small book, “The Three Questions”, based on a story by Leo Tolstoy, where I can always find it. The story ends with this paragraph:

“Remember then that there is only one important time, and that time is now. The most important one is always the one you are with. And the most important thing is to do good for the one who is standing at your side. For these, my dear boy, are the answers to what is most important in this world. This is why we are here.”

This past week was also filled with activities that brought light in to my life and lifted me up. As I reflect of what this means, I realize that this light comes from human relationships; it is contained in the invisible bonds that connect me with those around me.

It was a full week—interviewing applicants for summer teaching positions; meetings with Lisa; the weekly meeting with our spiritual formation group; lunch with Sara Jamison and George Seals to talk about endowment planning; the Good Neighbors board of directors meeting; meeting with Larry from Appalachian Power to talk about grants; Lib Walker’s memorial service; Jim and I meeting with Bob Craghead about purchasing land for the new Good Neighbors building; talking with a supporter about getting donated supplies to replace those lost in the fire; talking with friends at Art Vision Gallery during their benefit for Good Neighbors; attending “Dancing for a Cause” with about 500 others at Franklin County High School to benefit nine area nonprofit agencies; two afternoons with seven Good Neighbors Scholars in the Middle School After-School Academy; and attending Meeting for Worship at the Roanoke Quaker Meeting.

Quakers frequently speak of—Seeing that of God in Everyone.” As I sat in silent worship this morning, I was reminded that this message keeps me grounded, even in the midst of events I cannot control.

So, what does this have to do with Tabitha’s question? I think I have the answer. This past Thursday at the after-school program, we had a “dust-up” at the end of the day with our middle school scholars. This is a nice way of saying there were behavior problems related to anger and nonviolent conflict resolution. I left the school feeling frustrated asking myself—do we make any difference in the lives of these students? Why am I doing this? During Quaker Meeting for Worship this morning I believe the answer to these questions, and Tabitha’s question, was given to me—“Even when I can’t stand them, I keep coming back to be with our Good Neighbors children because I love them.”