If you read my other blog, Chaos in the Country, you know I’ve been gone much of this last week. I accompanied Bug on a class trip to Washington D.C.
How exciting it was to experience it with him. I took every opportunity I could to talk to him about why we were there what the monuments and memorials signified and why we had to be respectful and silent in certain places. I only wish that every other parent and teacher that attended had provided the students with the same kind of information I did.
we were in Arlington National Cemetery witnessing a funeral procession for a fallen soldier. How ironic that we were watching this as Memorial Day approached us. I stood in silence as a military band led the procession with a drum cadence. The only sound was their boots hitting the pavement and the sounds of horse drawn carriage carrying the casket with the United States flag drawn over it. I looked around at the students, parents, and our teacher and was shocked to see many of them taking pictures of the scene or even recording it. I approached as many of them as I could and told them they couldn’t take pictures or film the procession; it was disrespectful to the family of the fallen soldier. All put their cameras away except for one father who continued to chat on his cell phone. As the motorcade began I heard utterances of how long we would be standing in that spot, when would the motorcade end and could anyone see the end of it?
I was appalled and stunned. This was a valuable moment our children were witnessing and the moment to tell them of the importance and sadness of the moment we were watching was bypassed. Instead, a family’s sorrow and grief was turned into a media moment for us.
Is it me or is something inherently wrong when even our own educators miss a moment to teach the children about respect, understanding and compassion… let alone patriotism in our Nation’s Capital? That moment set the tone for me in terms of the teachers passing up moments to educate our children on the reason for our visit. A scavenger hunt replaced actual teaching and in moments where silence and respect was requested, kids scrambled to find answers and used the memorials as their desks to fill in the scavenger hunt.
I’m disappointed in our school and in our teachers and even the other parents for not using the time they had wiser. I realize that schedules and the itinerary was tight but in moments where there was nothing to do but wait, take the time to tell the kids about what they were seeing, what they may have been witnessing and why quiet was necessary. What the silence means to the people who have lost and who have honored and done great things for our country.
It’s bad enough that our schools teach around to the specifications to the next test but do they need to start teaching to the itinerary as well? Don’t our kids deserve to have the teachable moments explained to them?
How many teachable moments do you miss in a day with your children? What keeps you from taking the time? Are you afraid that you will be late to the next big thing?
You don’t get these moments back, these moments don’t wait for you to realize their importance. Why squander them?
I am appaled but not surprised. I cannot tell you how rude some parents at every school (three in the last three years) have not only been disrespectful but thinks its ok for their kids to be disrespectful because they are too lazy to instil manners, compashion and honor to their children.
My Brother-in-law is fighting in Iraq. That is his job. That was what he was sent across the world from his pregnant wife and two small children to do. whether you support the president or not if you are American you should stand there, in silence in witness of those who have given their lives for your freedom, your ability to go to school, your ability to read and write and go to amusement parks, listen to whatever music your parents allow you to listen to and RESPECT that moment.
Our children are the way they are because their parents don’t teach them what the word respect is. That has to change or we won’t be a nation to contend with, we’ll be the country who lags behind and watches everyone else pass us by.
Thanks for your thoughts! I agree – the way the children behave is a direct result of what they were taught growing up. People wonder why children behave they way they do now. It’s no mystery, parents have a huge role in the way their kids act and treat others, but sadly some don’t see it that way.
[...] accompanied Bug on a trip to DC and learned that even our educators have no clue how to teach our children respect for our country. (I’m still steamed about it and I can’t wait to go back with Bebe in a few years to [...]
[...] school showed a blatant disrespect for our nation’s capital, the monuments and how they completely missed so many important and teachable moments. Well, it seems that they’ve missed another one. Honestly? I could have sworn that part of the [...]