The hand
Parables and Illustrations for Values Education |
Thanksgiving Day approached and teacher asked students from first grade to draw something so it would be very grateful. He thought that those children, mostly poor, would not have much to thank. I knew that most of them painted turkeys, baked goods, cakes, ice cream, perhaps the beach...
The teacher stayed frozen with drawing provided by Douglas: a simple hand drawn with difficulty, without grace.
What would like to express with that hand? from who would be that hand? The class was captivated with the drawing of Douglas.
-Master, that is the hand of God that gives us food - said a student.
-I believe that it is the hand of the Lord that sells the terns at the school gate - ventured a little girl.
-It is the hand of Baker making bread and cakes - said another.
-It is the hand of the doctor who cured a child Douglas when he was hospitalized - shouted with enthusiasm.
Douglas remained silently shaking his head. The teacher approached him, affectionately leaned over his desk and asked who it was that hand.
-Is your hand, Miss - said blushed.
Then recalled the teacher many times, the recess, had led to Douglas, a very weak and helpless, child's hand. And he understood that that simple gesture for it was the most pleasurable experience in the life of Douglas.
Be master is to have your hand open, willing to help where you need it. Against a culture that separates, excludes, rejects or makes hand fist hitting, we open our hands and hearts, we teach by Word and example, the value of the acceptance that creates joy and security.
«Our students makes them lack bread and roses», wrote Célestin Freinet in his parables to a popular pedagogy (the sayings of Matthew). "The bread of the body, which keeps the individual in good physiological health. The bread of the spirit, which is called instruction, knowledge, technical achievements, without which runs the risk of not achieving the desirable intellectual health. But the Roses also. Not luxury, but vital necessity.
Children are in need of bread, the bread of the body and the bread of the spirit, but still have more need for the look of his teacher, his voice, his hand, his thinking and his promise. You do need feel they have found his teacher and his school the resonance which gives a meaning and a purpose to his life. They need to talk to someone who hear them, write to someone who read them or understand them, producing something useful and beautiful is the expression of all how much lead in them generous and higher.
The plant needs sunshine and blue sky; the animal not degenerated by the doma does not know live without the live air of freedom. The child needs to bread and roses."
Let us not forget that the children learn what they live.
If a child lives criticized learn to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.
If a child lives ashamed he learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance learn to be tolerant.
If a child lives with encouragement it learns to trust.
If a child lives dear learn to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness learn to be fair.
If a child lives with security learn to have faith.
If a child lives with approval learn to like it.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship learns to find love in the world.