A Letter to My Former Students

For the past 13 years I have had the privilege of teaching some outstanding young men and women. I have taught them the wonders of the world around them, from the cellular processes to the creation of a human child, from simple motion vectors to the complex chemical reactions that make life possible. In church I have been teaching you about the ways of God, of Christ, and how to become a righteous child of God. In addition to the curriculum of the given subject, it has also been my goal to teach you how to be a good person, to be resilient in life's challenges, to laugh and love with enthusiasm, to value life and support each other and those around you when life becomes difficult. Please know that while many of your names may fade from my immediate recollection over time (I've literally had over a thousand of you sit in my room), when I see your familiar faces it brings me great joy to know how you are doing and what adventure you are on. Many of you have connected with me on a personal level that has brought me much strength. I have stood by some of you as you have faced great struggles and challenges, and unbeknownst to many of you, I have received strength in facing my own challenges. A few of you have said that you see me as a father figure. That means a lot to me.

So let me be a bit of a father figure right now, especially to young men that have sat in my classroom. This is a life lesson that you need to hear right now. It came to my attention yesterday that there is a group of men on the internet that refer to themselves as "The Return of Kings". I suspect you may already know who these guys are and what they represent. If you don't, please allow me to enlighten you. They are disgusting misogynistic men who have an insane notion that rape in the privacy of one's home should be legal. They have a misguided image of what a real man is. It is an image of male superiority that didn't belong in the Dark Ages, let alone the 21st Century. They have a perverted view of what a "real man" should be. To think that such a group exists today is saddening. I was especially alarmed to learn that the founder of this group is planning public meetings across North America, especially in Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton, Victoria, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Surrey, Windsor, and here in Calgary.

Now, to the young men who sat in a desk in my classroom. You may or may not have enjoyed your time in my class, you may or may not remember anything I ever said or taught, but I hope you remember what I am about to say. Any "man" who associates with this group associates not with men but with cowards. These are not men. They are more akin to cockroaches who swarm in the cover of darkness, only to scurry for the shadows when the light of truth and good is shone upon them. I am shining a light on them now. I know I should show love to all my fellow human beings, but this group is making it difficult for me. Do you know who has been my biggest sources of strength in my life? My mother. My father. My big sister. My wife. My stepmother. My two daughters. My two sons. Nine people in that list, and RoK would argue that two thirds of them are beneath me, that they are less than me, that I should "dominate" them simply because I was born with a Y chromosome and they were not. What utter trash. They would take the souls of these saintly women in my life and demean them. I then look at all of my students, past and present. These are my "kids". I love and pray for my kids daily. This vile group would say that one half of my kids should be able to rape the other half whenever they want. To think that a woman or girl is little more than property or a pet is sickening. To the young men, so many of which have shown me that you get this point I'm making, I ask you to not just stay away from associating with this group, but actively counteract it's putrid message. Treat the women in your life with respect, dignity, care, and compassion. Do not demand that the women in your life bow to your every want and whim. When you see a "man" berate a woman, abuse a woman, or disrespect a woman, I want you stand beside that woman and be there for her. Don't do this because only a man can save a woman, because that is not true. Don't do it because it is our "job" to protect women, because it's not and they are capable of protecting themselves. Do it because it is the right thing to do. You don't have to be like a knight in shining armor riding to their rescue, just be a decent human being who will not stand for this revolting refuse.

To the young women I was teacher to, now it's your turn. Never accept less than full respect from the men in your life. If your boyfriend hits you, he is not showing love. If he tears you down in private or public, he is not showing love. If he acts in anyway that is less than a proper gentleman, be wary. I have not met a single person, woman or man, who deserves to be treated like trash by someone who supposedly loves them. Dump the jerk. You deserve better than that. If you see a friend or sister who is in such a circumstance, be there for them. Pass this message from me along to them: send that scumbag packing. I have seen too many of my kids get hurt by someone who was supposed to love them. These guys think that they are entitled to that which is most precious to you: your virtue. If the man in your life subscribes to the opinions of this group, he needs to be out of your life immediately if not sooner. If that man is your boyfriend, break up with him now. If a man asks you out and he starts to expect that which he is not entitled to from you, tell him "It's not me, it's you" and get rid of him.

My former students, my "kids", I beg of you, avoid this group of so-called returned Kings like you would a plague. Stand up to their disgusting ideals. You will find that these pigs (oops, my apologies to members of the porcine species) may be Kings, but their kingdom is a garbage heap and a mess located in the bowels of disgrace and inhumanity. You are above this. I am calling on you. I encourage you to tolerate diverse ideas and opinions and beliefs. This time, I am saying to not tolerate this one. There is no good in it. I love you all.

Realisations & Reflections

Realisations. I see my little daughter walk towards me for the first time and realise that she is growing up. I hear about people in my own country being persecuted for the clothing that they wear and I realise that in some ways our progress as society has been more shallow than I had hoped. I watch people make sacrifices for those displaced by the floods in June and realise that perhaps we have progressed more than I thought. I teach a biology course for the 20th time and think I've heard it all, and this week I had a kid ask me a really insightful question, and I see things in a brand new light again.Oh, the power of realisation. Sometimes it almost feels like it is revelation.

My biggest realisation this week was the fact that I have started my twelfth year of teaching. I have taught across the spectrum, and I have had many ups and downs. For some reason, I thought it was only ten years. I guess time goes more quickly at my age. I suspect that I am entering the last year of my first third of my education career. Looking back I find myself reflecting on what has changed the most. Each year I grow and change. Each year comes with new challenges and revelations. As I focus on the first part of my career, I find that there is one thing that permeates throughout all of the many different schools that I have worked at. That one thing is the impact of my students on my life. I have had some that have been amazing, and some that were a severe trial, with a range in between. Through all the good times and the bad I have had students that lifted me up, most often in ways that they did not realise were of benefit to me. I know that I have forgotten many of their names, especially in the early years, but their impact has been a buoy even years after they sat in front of me. At Centre High in Edmonton, I remember fondly the students who treated a brand new shiny teacher that they were hopeful for my success. I still to this day have the Farming Game that one class chipped together to get me for Christmas. I also remember one young lady who when she learned that due to budget reasons that I would not be employed by Edmonton Public any more, she wrote me glowing reference letter. I wonder if I still have that letter. I hope so.

In Radville, Saskatchewan, I had my first experience with students who hated me. I grew a lot from them. I also had a lot who loved me, and I discovered that the real reason I go to work every day is for those kids. I learned that I can't please everyone, and sometimes my perceived short comings are the problems of those who choose it to be so, not my own. I remember well a group of students who would find out what mischief students in another grade were going to attempt in my class, then let me know so I could be prepared for them. I wonder if that other group ever realised how I knew their every move.

After Radville I went to Thunderchild First Nation. Talk about a learning experience. My students their taught me how crucial resiliency is. I watched as kids who were on the cusp of adulthood be thrust into parenting roles within their own families due to circumstances beyond their control. I saw some falter while others flourished. I watched students get knocked down again and again and again, and each time they got up and pushed forward. I saw how drugs and alcohol ruined promise and hope. I saw violence that tore at a community like a frenzied wolf, and then saw the community come together. I saw children respond to a firm and steady voice, and it was here that I came to know how important a teacher can be in the life of a child. I went through the worst part of my personal life with these kids, and to hear so many positive things about myself from these kids was my life preserver. There are a handful who have eternally etched themselves into my soul. I keep track of them via Facebook, and things look good.

Moving back to Calgary I found myself subbing with FFCA, mostly in elementary schools. I loved having a group of Grade 2 students who I was with the day before run across the hall to give me a massive group hug. I feel much more comfortable with teens than elementary, but those little tykes were great. A hug from a child is always welcome. I then spent a few months at Sir Winston Churchill high school. I will not forget a group of six students who were so different and yet very tight. They reminded me of a stereotypical cast of one of those teenage horror movies, where a killer stalks a group of friends and bumps them off one by one (wow, how morbid). What was special about them was how diverse they were in ethnicity, religion, gender, ability, and so on, yet they worked so well together. they could teach us all a few lessons on inclusion and acceptance.

Finally, I found myself in my current assignment. I have been at this school the longest (unless you are talking about campuses, and then it's a tie with Radville at three years), and as far as I am concerned I will be here until retirement. I marvel at what these kids have taught me. To find a school where character and leadership are such an integral part of their educational practices creates a special kind of student. I have been honoured in so many different ways by these kids, and I have felt a desire far greater than with any other school to push myself out of my comfort zone. I have been inspired by these kids in their character, their responsibility, their humour, their art, and their spirits. I have had the great pleasure of seeing some amazing kids walk these halls and they are heading out into the world reading to leave their mark. What is interesting to me is that most of them have not yet realised that they have already left their mark. I take lessons from them and pass those on to the next batch of students.

So as I reflect and realise the wonders that exist in my students, I feel that my top 10 list is dedicated to them. If tonight was my last night on Earth...wait, that's a bit over dramatic. How about: "If today was my last day in front of the classroom...". Ah, yes, much better. If today was my last day in front of the classroom, here is the list of what I want my students to know.

10. What is failure? Failure is a choice. Failure is a chance. Failure is an opportunity. Failure is a possibility. Whenever you fail, you decide how it will effect you.
9. To thine own self be true (Catchy, huh. Belongs in a play or something). I have always felt that a person is successful whenever they are true to themselves.
8. Change your perspective from minimum to maximum. Stop thinking about how little work you need to achieve your dreams. Start looking at it as how much you can do to achieve your dreams. In school, stop wondering what the least amount of work you can do to get a good mark, but start trying to see how much you can learn. Whatever your job is, stop doing the bare expected minimum. Do the most you can to be the best at your job. You will have more success than you could ever imagine with that attitude.
7. Don't sweat the petty things... There is so much in life that we can get caught up in that in the grand scheme of things are unimportant. Don't let the little things bring you down. Don't let them sway you from what is important.
6. (continues from #7)... and don't pet the sweaty things. There is too much garbage in the world. Don't get involved in it. If you are involved in some of it, get out of it. There are people out there that will tell you if you smoke this substance, or look at this material, and listen to this hate that you will feel good. Those are lies. Stay away from them. Oh, and to the Class of 2013, that was from me!
5. Love is strength. If you want to change someone, love them. If you want to change your life, love more. If you want to overcome hate, use love, not more hate. Nothing beats love.
4. You never stop learning. At least, unless you do not believe in life after death. Then, you only stop learning when you die. Stop fighting it and embrace the learning. Knowing stuff and wondering about things are powerful. It can be the best part of your day.
3. Smile at strangers. You never know what your smile will bring to them. You may be the brightest part of that person's day. Also, you may make some people wonder what you're up to!
2. Always be yourself, but always be your better self. We all have good things and bad things about ourselves. We are all imperfect. Sometimes we justify our bad actions and poor choices because we are being "true to ourselves'. That's a cop out, and you know better. Be yourself, yes, but be the best self you can be.
1. How do you make a difference in the world? It does not matter how much money you make or how many people know your name. It makes no difference how many papers or novels you publish, nor how many followers you have on Twitter. Positions of power and authority do not equate with influence. If you want to make a difference in the world, then focus on the relationships you have with people. If you focus on relationships, then you will be a major power of change.

Good night.