Five minutes in a
room with me and you’ll have full view of my “right brain” – my love of art and
music, the way I see things in pictures.
I could easily drive someone crazy with my endless perspective on passing
clouds or objects in the branches of trees.
I’m that person
who gets a song stuck in their head and not only hums and sings the tune, but
digs deeper for the meaning and connection to me and my life. So, lately it’s been a tune by artist Matthew
West. The chorus is really catchy.....
“If not us, then who?
If not me and you?
Right now, it’s time for us
to do something.”
Matthew wrote this
story after being inspired by a young, incredibly courageous college student,
Andrea, who stood up to the Ugandan government over travesties at an
orphanage. Not happy with so many
children being homeless after the orphanage WAS shut down, she decided to
create a safe place for these children and has gone on to start Musana
orphanage in Iganga, Uganda.
This young woman
is so inspirational and her story incredible.
While I haven’t left the country to begin an orphanage or approached
foreign government, I believe some of the things I’ve done have impacted others.
My own children
have heard my new mantra: “If not you,
then who?” (Even my “school kids” have
heard me say this!) I let them know that they must act on situations they want
to change. I encourage my kids each day to “do something” no matter
how small. Whether it’s sticking up for
someone else, doing the right thing when others ignore it, going the “extra
mile” when you really want to sit down and rest, when you need to just dig a
little deeper but would rather sit on the side.
For many years I
often kept my opinions on education changes to myself. Silently I went along with decisions,
fiercely disagreeing, but kept quiet because I was never asked my opinion. I’d do my job and would continue to “do
something” within the walls of my classroom.
Decisions would be made and the perception was that I agreed, but I’d
research and be sure decisions and policies were created from sound research
before I’d ever “jump on”. I guess it’s
as I’ve gotten older and more secure in who I am that I now act on the injustice I see, I have taken on more of an activist role – not always popular,
but what I know I have to do to stand up for what is right and "do something".
I often share with
my kids the things I have fought for – for them and their education, for
what’s right in life situations, for what’s best for kids in classrooms, when I
question a decision being made, etc. I
tell them the good, the bad, the ugly. I
share even when I’m not most popular, looked down on, disregarded, even ignored, and when I feel like I’ve taken on something I’ll never win – I want them to
understand the importance of doing something even when you may not come out on
top. I also share the things I’ve successfully
advocated for –humbly keeping the focus on others and the act of doing what’s
right.
These days I find
myself pondering Matthew’s chorus and asking myself:
- At what point in education do you stir the pot to question a decision?
- At what point is it okay to head directly into conflict when you disagree with a decision that will impact children?
- At what point is it okay to speak up when kids are part of the equation?
- At what point is it okay to have the strength to take the less traveled road to be an advocate for children’s futures?
- At what point do we gain the courage to stand up, as activists, to assure sound decisions are made for our kids and education?
“Right now.
It’s time for us to do something.”
