#2 Everyone Deserves a Cookie - Read Description Poster

Everyone does deserve a cookie .... and deserves to know they are deserving. I'm about as much of a white bread princess as you get, and how as a teacher I reached some kids would seem a mystery; yet, it's simple: I cared, and I believe that equality also means all should be treated with kindness. Sure most teachers care. Not all though. Some see the tough kids as unreachable. I truly believe the kids know that also, so it's a cycle. I think they need to be reached and want to be reached, and if you can put out the effort, the respect will be reciprocated. My soapbox ... : ) I'm not teaching now due to a severe spine injury at school (with no help from the system). I griped ALL THE TIME about teaching as a later in life career, and Daddy said, "You are where you're supposed to be. You are touching the lives of those kids." That changed things for me. I received fabulous gifts and financial support from parents for my art program, and I appreciate that. What I really appreciate is the day a graduating 8th grader in this affluent middle school lied about going to the nurse to come to see me .... and thank me. He thanked me for treating his friends as "good" as the rich kids were treated. I remember tears coming, and I said everyone should treat him and his friends that way. They are great kids. It was no biggie. He said oh yes, it was, and everyone does NOT. That, I'll take to my grave in my heart. One day, I had to call down a tough little 8th grade cookie herself who liked me (but gave some others a bit of grief). She had mouthed off to me that day which shocked me. After a few minutes, I reached in my lunch and pulled out a cookie and took it over to her table, because I knew it hurt her to hurt me, and no matter, these are all kids who need understanding. She took it, did not thank me, put her head down for a couple minutes to hide tears, got up, came back to my desk, and practically knocked me out of my chair with a hug. She asked, "Why did you give me your cookie?" to which I replied ... Everyone deserves a cookie from time to time, so ... : ) Everyone does deserve a great big sweet cookie ... and everyone deserves to know they ARE deserving .... : ) Thanks for allowing me to express my feelings on that .... Sharon Rhea Ford, NBCT, www.zazzle.com/sharonrhea* ... Copyright Sharon Rhea Ford, NBCT-Art.