Seeing Through Time

I recall one of the Simpson's episodes where the family sits to eat a dinner that Abu, the Indian convenience store owner, has prepared for them. As the camera follows the discussion, the focus moves to Lisa who has eaten some of the spicy food. With enlarged eyes she says, "I think I can see through time."

Every day, teachers spend time exercising their ability to see through time. It isn't exercising the eyes, as much as the imagination. Here are sets of people sitting in front of us with no remote past, an all too imposing present, and a mysterious future. We try to see that future in each of them.

Like farmers, we plant seeds that will not mature, perhaps not even sprout, for a considerable time to come. It affords us no solace to make judgments. We really don't know what these students will develop in to, nor what influences and knowledge will finally make a difference in their lives. It can be an intimidating environment to consider how many things every day could impact a student. But we can't live there, or we would become immobile and of little value to anyone.

Of course, looking into the future doesn't mean prediction. Rather it is an attitude of uncertainty, and a hope and belief that human beings as imaginative creatures always have the capacity to grow and change and understand.

I have had students leave and become heroine addicts. Student who have left and are not around anymore. Students who were so socially awkward it was painful to watch, who have gone to college to become student body president, debaters, and social butterflies. Troubled students who leave their troubles behind, and stable students who spiral into a troubled abyss.

It is each person's responsibility to decide the things that will matter to them and the choices that they will make. But everyday we are helping to provide those "things" that will matter, and that decisions will be based upon. If we can't see through time to the potential of the future, we risk misunderstanding how profound each teaching day can, and will, be.

To add your stories and insights to the blog, please submit your posts and stories about the daily goings on and battles that we face daily in the classroom. The goal is to help us, and the public at large, understand the reality of the classroom and move beyond the simplistic view of public education as a "broken" problem. The reality most often counters well the inaccurate and error-ridden public media reports about education and education policy.

Please send your ideas, or a fully written post, focusing on events, personalities, issues, etc., that you deal with in the classroom. I will moderate the forum, and post whatever I can.

Thank you in advance for participating. Send to ceablogger@inbox.com