| My sister has been an elementary teacher since | | | | things stay the same...where he or she has a |
| 1976. My mother taught 3rd grade for her entire | | | | desk, books, and a permanent place in the |
| career. My father was a superintendent of a small | | | | classroom. It provides an emotional anchor that |
| school system. I taught elementary art years. I | | | | they lack at home. |
| know kids. | | | | This is where my new career and education cross |
| Two Careers Cross Paths | | | | paths. My sister told me that it is important for a |
| Since I retired a few years ago, I have been | | | | child to 'belong' to something...to be part of a |
| working with a company that provides advertising | | | | family, even if the family is the school. She |
| promotional products. What in the world do these | | | | regularly gives the students pencils, calendars, |
| two industries have to do with each other you | | | | locker magnets, and other inexpensive goodies |
| ask? At first I didn't think about it, but after | | | | that have the school's name and mascot on it. |
| delving into my new 'career,' I found a common | | | | Every kid enjoys things like that, but she firmly |
| thread. | | | | believes that the gifts provide the disadvantaged |
| Some children in school don't have an ideal home | | | | children a sense of belonging. The trinkets make |
| life. Sad, but true. Anyone who has been a | | | | them feel accepted and part of the group. That is |
| teacher for any length of time has seen a | | | | a feeling they don't get at home. |
| student in that situation. There are many reasons. | | | | It Isn't Expensive |
| Drugs and/or alcohol, a broken home, abuse, and | | | | Laurie, my sister, said that the most popular item |
| neglect can create a poor home life for a young | | | | is a simple refrigerator magnet with the school |
| person. To students subjected to such an | | | | mascot on it. She sees them on lockers at school, |
| environment, home is merely a place where they | | | | but they also end up on refrigerators in the child's |
| sleep at night. They might not even know who will | | | | home where it provides that needed sense of |
| be living there with them from day to day, or in | | | | belonging can be displayed. |
| which room or bed they will sleep. Eventually the | | | | Why not spend a few dollars and give something |
| classroom teacher can pick up on signs that a | | | | to your students that will help create a positive |
| student is living in a situation like those described. | | | | environment for all the students? Contact your |
| Teachers Can Help | | | | PTA and have them help out by purchasing the |
| Teachers cannot solve those problems, but they | | | | items for the teachers to distribute. Speak with |
| can do a few things to make the child's life a bit | | | | the school administrators to see if they would be |
| brighter. The school can create a sense of | | | | interested in purchasing some magnets for the |
| normalcy for a student who doesn't get it at | | | | students. Your kids will truly appreciate it. |
| home. School is perhaps the one place where | | | | |