Last night, I went to the advanced guitar and string orchestra concert at West Hills and was blown away by the talent. Student after student stepped to the stage and delivered virtuoso performances to an appreciative crowd. I think many at our school have no idea that some of these kids even play an instrument.
The same night, I receive a tweet from @danmcdowell that one of his photo students, and a T.A. of mine, won Best in Show at the district art show. I’m going to be honest…I didn’t even know she was a photographer.
A sophomore at our school won CIF in gymnastics on Friday. I’ve never heard of her.
We have a girl who is one of the top 400M runners in the nation for her age and placed 2nd in CIF…as a freshman.
Earlier this year, some choir students came into class to promote the elective and did some a cappella singing. The two amazing singers who had solo parts were both my current students…I didn’t know they could sing.
One of my 5th period students just placed 2nd in two CIF swim events.
I have students who are accomplished rappers, singers, creative writers, poets, artists, athletes, quilters, and even a cake decorator.
Excellence and greatness is hiding all over your campus. These kids we teach are absolutely amazing when you take the time to go beyond the surface and see where their talents lie. Part of building rapport with students is finding ways to learn about these hidden talents and showing an interest in what is going on in their lives beyond your class period. Get out to some games and events and you’ll see a richness and texture to your school that goes unnoticed by most.
As a school, we could also do a better job of both promoting the talent we have on campus and providing more opportunities to develop and display it. As a teacher, I also have to shoulder some of the responsibility. I should have known that my T.A. was into photography. Maybe if I had provided more open-ended and creative projects when she was in my class last year, she would have chosen to incorporate those interests and talents into her work. Why have all of those singers and musicians I saw last night not performed in my class. Obviously, I haven’t done a good enough job of providing the opportunity.
We could also do a lot better job of appreciating the staff members who put in the long hours working with these kids and inspiring them to develop these talents. Excellence hides there on your campus, as well. I’m talking about teachers in areas like band, choir, theatre, art, shop, photo, etc.. I don’t know who they are at your school. At my school it’s people like Lorentz, Deerfield, Pate, McDowell, Van Dyke, Goodman, Conant, Samuelsz, Worley, and too many other staff members and coaches to list. It’s hard to define what these teachers mean to a school for the simple reason that a number can’t quantify it. I can tell you what they mean to some of your students, though. Everything.
Of course, on Tuesday and Wednesday of this coming week, these students will sit down in my class and take the state standardized test for U.S. History and fill out bubble sheets with #2 pencils. We have special block testing schedules, signed affidavits, new security protocols, and a hot line number to call if there is a problem. We bend over backwards for this test and how they do will in no small part contribute to the “score” that supposedly defines us as a school.
Whatever. I want them to do their best and I hope they do well. However, I think that what better defines us as a school is what I saw in that concert last night, on the athletic fields this weekend, and at that birthday party yesterday, where my student delivered an incredibly creatively decorated cake to a 2 year old.
Take a look under the surface. I personally guarantee you there are excellence and greatness hiding at your school, too.
Dave Burgess