Thank God for Teacher B!

It takes a team.  It takes patience.  It takes showing up kind. Then anything is possible. 

Music by Scott Holmes - A Wee Tipple 
Non Copyright Music

Transcript

Copy Transcript Copied

SPEAKER_00 0:05

Dear teacher A, what the actual I gotta say, you weren't in the least bit helpful today. Oh, I agree. It would make all of our jobs easier if he participated, if he actually completed his schoolwork. But his job isn't really to make our jobs easier, is it? It sure would have made my job easier if you remembered who you're working with, or if you would have just said you couldn't help. Then at least he would not have had to face one more adult who refused to look past the failure to the person in front of them. You missed out on such a great opportunity. Do you even know how much time and effort it took to get him to agree to just show up today and try? It took months. Trust does not come easily to this one. For good reason. Reaching out never brought about anything good. If you knew where he comes from, maybe then you get it. But the problem is you never asked, did you? Never checked in when he was obviously missing. For one who already believes failure is inevitable, the tone in which you addressed him and how you spoke to him simply confirmed that belief. Great, you just cost me time. And what's worse, you cost him the first tiny sliver of hope he's had in a while. I'd like to send you an invoice for services not rendered, and then order you a real close up come to Jesus moment. Dear teacher B, thank God for people like you. Thank you for taking the time to sit down and give this one another chance, for the gentle way you engaged him, no underlying resentment, just plain and simple kindness. Thank you for slowing down, for adapting to his pace. There was no lecturing, no passive aggressive comments, no threats about what will happen if he doesn't. You noticed any effort he made, encouraging him to keep going, and brushed off his mistakes as no big deal. I'd really like to help this one get a win somehow, just one. Then maybe experiencing what it's like to win will give him a reason to try. And by the way, even running into you today was a win. When I drove him back to his house, we talked about you, and he said he liked the way you taught him and found it easier to learn. Whether or not he finishes the course is really beside the point for me. The most important point right now is that he experiences people who actually show up, who go out of their way, who are patient with mistakes, and let the process of change do its thing in its own timing. You were great today. Thank you.