Kansas Kate - new generation-old hat
Posted on November 1, 2007 by Katherine Carr |
The more I work with youth of this great nation I am encouraged by the tenacity, fortitude, and creativity of today’s young mind. I am more than ever motivated by the caring and sensitive heart of those young persons out there who want to serve this nation and the people we all share as fellow Americans. As a teacher of high school age students for the past 38 years I have some reference to experience and evidence. Are they as forgetful, playful, immature, and impatient as we were? Of course. My 60’s generation did not invent that nor will their grandchildren. That is the nature of a teenager in this country but it does not define the ultimate result. So skipping the process for the moment I want to share some wonderful observations in the hope we never forget the potential of the future and blessings of the present.
This week I witnessed a young student offering to take a fellow student down the hall in a wheelchair. I watched a class of nearly 25 all stand to pay respect to the symbol of this great nation with pride and love. Three students stopped to help a teacher with some overload and not only carried for them but asked , in a polite way, if there was anything else needed. I saw a student hug another who was distressed with the multitude of pressures on the backs of our young. Growing up too soon and too fast, sexual and societal dictates, grades, car insurance, aides, Ly-mes, MERSA, and all the pressures and possibilities of this modern school culture push down on the very spirit that does define youth but these kids are right’ in its face’ and ready to survive, conquer and progress. Bravo! When we read about heroes and Beowulf in our senior class we also know and see our school leaders stand up to the evils in the world and win with courage, integrity and good old fashioned sweat. As we marvel at the ability of one of our respected literary critics and authors we understand that Poe, despite his personal demons and tragedy, got it. All humanity feed off each other. We are who we emulate most! Even as we practice skills or the HESPA ( facts, inferences, conclusions, open ended questions, and picture prompts ) we all know we are in this together and together we can and will prevail. In America practice does make perfect. We do what we have to do to get the job accomplished. Our forefathers got it and if we use history to judge and learn from and literature to understand ourselves and others we might get it too and “get it together”. I have faith in these kids. My first class in ‘70 is no different from the one in ‘07. It is why my job is not as much about a career but a vocation. It has defined who I am as much as who they become. God Bless America and our young! Keep reading and being a part of the whole! I know, TOTO,” we are not in Kansas anymore ” but if in New Jersey, Kansas or China we will pass the baton to the next generation so we had better do for them all we can to prepare them and stand by them.
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4 Responses to “Kansas Kate - new generation-old hat”
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Hey Kansas Kate! Its refreshing to hear a person from another generation take so much pride in the youths of this generation!
A little Midwest sweetness right here. Three cheers to teachers who care!
Oh no, I just realized that my CCD teacher is now in a position to read my agnostic rants! Is there no hope for my immortal soul?
And what a CCD class it was. Ruemeli, Carr, Gamble and the Budweiser Kid! Kansas Kate a.k.a. Ste. Catherine.