Perspectives from the Classroom
My earliest challenge to world events happened on November 22, 1963. They dismissed us from school early that fall brisk day. I remember meeting under the flagpole, the older “kids” from the Italian neighborhood waited for the younger ones, like myself to walk home. As my feet rustled through the autumn leaves, crunching every step of the way, I listened to the older ones discussing the President. “Oh wow, this is horrible, what will happen to us now!” In addition, another said, “Who will be our President now?”
As I approached my grandparents’ home I walked up the stairs to hear sobbing coming from the living room. My grandmother crying, my grandfather, holding back tears. As he was holding my hand, I asked him a question that defined and opened my world. “Grandpa, what’s a President?”
As the three of us sat on the couch, over the course of three days, our nation stood still, and we became strong in faith and prayer.
Yes, every generation speaks of that moment, the moment that stops time, the moment when you realize that you are not alone! For many as my children’s generation, the defining moment, was September 11, 2001, New York City. Again, our country became strong in faith and prayer.
The year 2020 has not been easy for our families, and our students. Just a few months ago, many of us had no idea what a “zoom” was, and now it has become a part of our vocabulary and our classrooms.
For our students, they are realizing the challenges very early in life because of Covid-19. Sports, movies, dances, gatherings, social distancing, college, prom, graduation, illness, a parent losing a job, and of course wearing a mask!
The St. Paul community, together with teachers and administration, are helping to raise sensitivity and awareness during this difficult time in each classroom.
At the beginning of every class, I ask our students to pray for the St. Paul Family, and for each other. I have mentioned to students in the past that we spend more time with each other in school than with our own families. I believe the reason we all struggled earlier this spring when we went into distancing learning was that there was another family that our hearts ached for; it was our St. Paul Family!
Because of the unusual challenges our students and the world is currently experiencing, I believe there will be leaders coming forth in the near future because of the trials and tribulations. I know that many of them as I am confident to say will be St. Paul students. God bless our students. GO FALCONS!
