“Let
us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow.”
A.P.J.
Abdul Kalam
By
Tommie Saylor
Kennedy
High School Principal
It's what's best for the kids ...
Those
are words we hear on a daily basis. But two different types of people often
speak them. There are those who speak these words out of convenience, a
way to solicit a response, to pluck at our heartstrings and conscience.
Speaking these works like swinging a baseball bat, some people use these words
for their own gain.
But
those of us who understand that these words have meaning far beyond what can be
defined by Webster, doing what is best for kids are our “windmills” with whom
we “tilt” at daily. Those who truly understand these words will do what
is best for kids regardless of how it affects them.
Making
the right decision may mean extra work on the part of the educator, maybe even
bending a few rules because it is what is best for a specific student.
This can cause anxiety because those who live by these words often get shunned
and ridiculed.
But
what others don’t understand is that it is about the student, not the
rule.
Don’t
get me wrong. I’m not advocating for anarchy. Rules need to be enforced, but
they need to be enforced with understanding. In our world, there is no black
and white, only shades of gray.
Doing
what is best for kids often means standing against others, against policy and against
convenience. Often it means late nights, early days and very little sleep
between. Often it means no social life, breaking appointments and
disappointing your own family. It means placing your students’ needs
before your own needs.
Truly
doing what is best for kids means giving them the benefit of the doubt. It
means that the learning trumps process and procedure. It means you recommend to
the bosses the best course of action even if it means harming you personally –
even if it may mean the elimination of your own job.
When
you begin placing the needs of your students before your own needs, then you
understand what it is to do what’s best for kids.
Helping
students to find their greatness. Making Kennedy High School the school of
choice. Excellence by design.
