Life Long Lessons: St. Croix

Life Long Lessons: St. Croix

    In a season that usually celebrates promotional exercises and vacations I have grown fond of watching the endless pictures of graduations from preschool to college. I can't speak for everyone else but it makes me reminisce on adolescent memories, lost opportunities and life-long lessons! As I scroll through my news feeds and read the paper during this season I sometimes feel a sense of pride recognizing my career choice does matter ( even though I get horrible hours, make minimum wage, and am constantly ridiculed). Today I was stripped of such after reading Facebook posts about adolescent twin boys ( from St. Croix) that will not be able to participate in their graduation. While this was completely their own faults and choice according to reports by the associated press I'm shocked at the stance many have taken with regards to the consequences set forth by the U.S Virgin Islands Department of Education.

     Parents and teachers alike spent time coaching, training, and teaching adolescents to become responsible citizens that can contribute to our society beginning from the early years. We have become a society that makes excuses for our children rather than letting them learn.

    While it is sincerely terrible that these young men, the epitome of many of our young men, will be deprived of this epic opportunity they were given a choice and they had to choose what was best for their futures. It was all their choices from beginning to end.

    Just like the world we live in today everyone has to face the consequences of their actions. While the circumstances are unfortunate these young men have just received a life lesson they will never forget.

The views expressed within the blog are solely those of Ms. Child Advocate and does not reflect on any of her affiliations. For more on the U.S Virgin Islands youths read Curriculum Choices, Learning Environment & Strategies, My Beliefs on Language Acquisition,  Respect Goes Both Ways: Teacher and Student, V. I Character, and Curricula Standards & Benchmarks

Virgin Islands Character; What Once Was

Virgin Islands Character; What Once Was

As a child growing up  in the Virgin Islands I was afforded opportunities to observe the inner workings  social or extra curricula activities within the territory and their benefits. I recognized that all pageants, leagues and institutional organizations all had one thing in common;  they facilitated opportunities for adolescents to obtain and build character building skills which can help them with personal growth. Basketball and baseball leagues valued character. All students had to be in good standing within their various school communities This also provided opportunities f or children without privilege to learn and develop character building traits necessary to become productive members of society. To build habits like punctuality, dressing formal, taking pride in their appearance and work ( school or work whatever that maybe).

Young men once had ample opportunities to build character and integrity, learning the many other ways to earn respect but most importantly they learned respect for themselves. Young girls were too given ample opportunities to learn how to become ladies, and shine equally amongst their adolescent peers through various sports and organizations regardless of gender. Their opportunities facilitated hope for other young girls within the territory as well as illustrated to member of our society the importance of such organizations. But the lack of consideration for many of these character building traits leaves adolescents and parents with a lack of appreciation for these traits and our schools with the ethical dilemmas of how to proceed. Do they bother to solve it at all? How can teachers and administrators within the institution of education help foster skills that should have been introduced and reinforced at home first?

Sincerely, I don’t think they can without meaningful parental involvement and collaboration between families and the school. Calling and texting a teacher is a form of informal communication that can be very beneficial in many areas but it is not enough. Waiting until report cards are issued to buckle down on studies does not work, more importantly my fellow parents making excuses for you child does not work (even if you’re the excuse!). It is time to reteach to our children through role modeling everyday how to be responsible and take responsibility for their actions. Admit that it is your fault and work to find ways to rectify it through collaborating with teachers or the administration; extra credit, or community service does attribute to their academic standing as well as character traits.

Rather than illustrating the ignorance that has become synonymous with our citizens in recent generations. Solidarity and integrity have always been vital components of our culture;  Virgin Islanders lets make it a priority to embrace our own traditions rather than reforming to those of our national neighbors.

The views expressed within the blog are solely those of Ms. Child Advocate and does not reflect on any of her affiliations. For more on the U.S Virgin Islands youths read Curriculum Choices, Learning Environment & Strategies, My Beliefs on Language Acquisition,  Respect Goes Both Ways: Teacher and Student

Respect Goes Both Ways: Teacher And Student

Respect Goes Both Ways: Teacher And Student 

 

Over the course of the past few weeks I was afforded an opportunity to recognize just how much ( and how far) respect goes within a classroom or school setting; it goes both ways. First off I'd like to state that when I mention respect I mean in all forms; professional, cultural, and ethical. As teachers and role models we are tasked with the blessing of illustrating the behavior we expect from our students and their families with regards to the development of the 'whole child'. Secondly I'd like to add we must remember to respect the ideas, opinions, and emotions of others as well  in order to create the learning environment necessary and rapport needed to keep the lines of communication open between the classroom and the home. This sort of communication is key and without it developing the whole child can be impossible.  

From my experiences I would say having this open line of communication is crucial within the aspects of classroom management, the development of the 'whole child', and the learning environment that would be set forth without it since it would technically be excluding the areas of the aforementioned as they pertain to the development of early learners or any individual. Respect between students and teachers or schools and families is crucial to the development of every child as we know adolescence are the impressionable years. With that being said, any and all disagreements or 'meeting of the minds' need be handled with the utmost scrutiny with the best interests of the student and family in question; this is where respect is comes in. Respect and empathy are necessary and as is implied by many there is a trait from intrapersonal intelligence that teachers (successful teachers) exhibit. The ability to empathize with students and their families needs will ultimately improve the rapport within their relationship stance, between all parties concerned and enable the facilitator with the information necessary to create a learning environment that can suit the needs of all.  

Furthermore, respect must be reciprocal in all forms, one cannot sincerely expect their concerns to met with diligence nor sincerity if they too disregard the concerns, opinions, and ideas of others in the same respect. Simply put, you cannot expect respect from anyone (including students, their families and your peers) without first giving it in return. Most individuals don't respond to aggression kindly (maybe MLK, Ghandi, or Marcus Garvey), in fact I've come to realize that most people regardless of age commonly have the same reactions to aggression; more aggression. Once more this is why respect is so important. I once recall telling a group of students 'if you respect yourselves you will command respect from others in return', as this is what I truly believe. Despite age differences all human have different senses and feelings and it is  certainly not hard to tell disdain nor resentment, child or not. Most people think that their sincere beliefs will never show since they have gotten away with their 'methods' for so long, but I believe there is a simple question that can answer all of that; "are you proud  of the job you have done?"  

The views expressed within the blog are solely those of Ms. Child Advocate and does not reflect on any of her affiliations. For more on the U.S Virgin Islands youths read PTA, Parent Committee, & Volunteering: Get Involved , Too Much Violence: USVI Shootings Near Preschools, USVI Shootings Near Preschool's 2, and Violence And Abuse In School