Super Value

Throughout my years of teaching I had the opportunity to be a part of many different committees. I would be lying if I said I enjoyed every meeting, every agenda and every committee member. What is true, however, is that I learned something from each gathering for the good or the bad.

One particular challenging committee I served on had the objective of reviewing whether the needs of gifted students were being met at the middle school level. Before I go any farther, it might be best if I come clean with my bias. I hate the word gifted as it implies that one child is superior to another based solely on one criteria point. Such a premise is a slippery slope, in my opinion.

Our committee was comprised of teachers, parents and district administrators. One of the committee members was a particular contentious and vocal mother of a student in the gifted program. She, of course, believed the needs of her little Einstein were not being met and it was time for a change. I am no stranger to such rants but her personality and unmitigated demands rubbed me the wrong way. My vow to keep my mouth shut and do my time was not long lived. I eventually spoke my piece, more than once, I'm afraid. Mama Bear had no time of day for me as I was "just a regular teacher" so I knew I was wasting oxygen speaking to her but it made me feel better. During one particular heated moment, Mama Bear made the statement, "Why is this district spending so much time on the regular kids. Everyone knows they will never save the world." Suffice it to say, I practically levitated from my seat.

Fast forward to today. Who are the folks we are asking to risk so much for us? Surely, we need scientists and researchers in a desperate way but it is also very clear that each person who shows up at an essential service job is putting their health and well-being on the line. The HVAC worker who fixes a furnace in a cold home, the grocery clerk who works with hundreds of people throughout the day, the nurse who takes a deep breath and goes in for another shift, the FedEx driver who faithfully delivers packages so we can shop from home, the caretaker at a senior living center who works with an extremely vulnerable population, and on and on it goes. I do not know their IQ levels but it doesn't matter one iota to me whether they are Mensa or not.

I may never cross paths with Mama Bear again but there is a part of me that feels justified after all these years. If we learn anything from our current world crisis, perhaps one lesson is to honor the value of others, regardless of an IQ rating, a prestigious job, a fat bank account or a lucrative sports career. I think Mr. Rogers got it right again when he said, "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping'".

God bless the helpers and may we all be one of them.

Thanks to the folks at the greenhouse who are making sure we can
 dream of gardening days ahead.