Amazing Grace

Yesterday, I stood beside a child, as he rehearsed his 'Living Museum' project. The project consisted of finding a, famous, person, in History and researching and composing a speech to be delivered, in front of the entire class.

We are speaking about a second grade class.

Students were called, randomly, to stand up, in the front of the class to learn the basics about public speaking and deliverance. Some students, immediately, raised their hands to volunteer to be first.

Other students looked as though this was not something that, really, concerned them but they were not volunteering to be first.

And, still, other students, slide down, a bit, in their chairs.

Delivering such a speech, in front of a class in one of the, most vulnerable, places for a child to be and, as a Teacher, it is imperative to be that person who is watching the rest of the students to be certain that they are being a, 'good' audience. We speak about what comprises a 'good audience' and then we, all, watch to see that everyone is being respectful, non distracting and polite.

As each child came up and delivered their speeches, we applauded them, as they returned to their seats.

Then, came the boy, from the Soviet Union. He was, very agreeable to come up and speak but when he began his speech, his face was flushed and he began to stammer a bit. I, immediately, moved closer to him to help him deliver the words and could see that this was an arduous thing for him to do. He continued and one could sense the support of his, fellow students, even, during the most awkward moments of his deliverance.

I thought to myself, when he was finished, how blessed I am to be a Teacher and to, consistently, witness the bravery of these young people. The bravery encompasses each and every situation, in a classroom. It could be a language barrier. It could be a serious problem at home. It could be a serious illness. It could be the differences in all students.

There is no better career, in my opinion, to be, passionately, involved with the educational formation of a soul and the safeguarding of a young person's self esteem as they traverse through the myriad of challenges.

Thus.... "Yes, I Can". I hope that you read it and I hope that you enjoy it.

Please know that, "Yes, I Can Dance" a new publication due for release in November of 2016, published by James Abraham, Book Brokers, Port Charlotte, Florida, is about a Deaf and Multiply-handicapped Dance program that I founded, in Boston.... a life-changing, program for both me and for the students I taught, at Regis College, in Weston, MA.

Dr. Lois Christie-Carme