Each week, as I begin to focus on my note to parents, topics seem to jockey for priority. On any given week there are a number of issues that come up, topics that are urgent, that are all equally important. This week I listened to teachers talk about volume-challenged classrooms. How can children learn when they strain to listen to one another? I also had a heartfelt conversation with a parent who shared her concern for her child’s need and trepidation with finding, being, and expressing himself.  These do not seem mutually exclusive topics. They both seem to be about listening and being able to be heard. How do we support our children when they struggle with finding their identity? How do we protect our children when others tease beyond what he or she can handle? How do we guide our children to listen and develop empathy? How do we slow our children down to simply listen?
 
The task of public education is to work together, parents and teachers, to raise children who will understand and internalize the best habits of a democratic society. Not a small order. On our best days, we endeavor to raise smart, strong, creative and thoughtful children. Young people open to different ways of thinking and being, able to listen, to reflect, to learn, and to accept. Our end game is they leave us respecting the rights of all others. I do not pretend to have all the answers.  I know that in our classrooms we have begun to explore one way of listening, through our Way of Council. We will have a Way of Council parent education night on February 22^nd. I look forward to beginning and continuing this working together.

-Ms. Rescia