It's a little lonely in my classroom first thing in the morning. I don't have students until after they check into their homeroom, listen to the announcements and take attendance. But all by myself, with no audience or camera around, I still stand and say the pledge of allegiance with my hand on my heart. All by myself. My conscious just won't allow me to stay seated when up and down the hall I can hear students showing honor and respect to our country - our young, fierce, vibrant homeland with it's complicated citizenship, freedoms and conflicting acts of patriotism.
Later today, I will discuss 9/11/2001 with my immigrant students, somehow trying to explain that day to them in the context of what happened then, and what is happening now, and how it affects them. From past experience, I know some of them might have their own stories of terrorism to share, or sit quietly and remember. Some are happy and relieved to be here in America. Some are resentful of being yanked away from what was familiar and safe. For all of them, America is where they are now and whether they feel like an American or not, they are at the least, temporary citizens and at the most, future patriots.
And all I can think of is: God bless America, land that I love...
Two weeks later, I was in the middle of the pledge and suddenly two 8th graders quietly stepped into my room, removed their hats, covered their hearts with their hands and joined me. After we finished, they slipped back out... no big deal, a part of their day - making mine.
ReplyDelete