Comments on: How does a Nonviolent teacher cope with school violence? http://www.mettacenter.org/blog/how-does-a-nonviolent-teacher-cope-with-school-violence for Nonviolence Wed, 04 Aug 2010 20:54:11 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Rick http://www.mettacenter.org/blog/how-does-a-nonviolent-teacher-cope-with-school-violence/comment-page-1#comment-50305 Rick Wed, 17 Dec 2008 04:36:21 +0000 http://www.mettacenter.org/?p=348#comment-50305 This is a conundrum for which, obviously, there are no easy answers. My only reminder is that active nonviolence, if it is to be effective, has to be wise. Though idealism may prompt us to protect every vulnerable child, wisdom requires us to assess each situation as to how effective we can be. There is a saying among prison inmates, that "he mistook my kindness for weakness." Among kids, particularly kids living in dysfunctional families, the lesson is learned early that kindness is weakness. If you wish to change this view of life, you have to choose moments when your teaching can actually have an effect. Or you have to find ways to create "teaching moments." Unfortunately we live in a society in which lip service is paid to nonviolence, but there is no real support for it. Lip service is also paid to the sanctity of childrens' lives, but too often it is only lip service. As a teacher, you have to recognize your limits and know first of all that you are not God, you cannot save everyone. You might not even be able to help most of those you would like to help. If, at the end of your career, you can say that you touched a few hearts for the better, that is a lot. Don't give up your faith, but know that faith will often require sacrifice and that there are few people who will applaud you for it. Most will regard you as foolish. Above all, know what you are doing, so you are choosing your action; do not simply react out of your ideals-- some people put themselves in danger and when they are hurt, they blame the people who hurt them. In fact, when you risk being hurt, you risk putting the person who hurt you in jeopardy, because you risk the possibility that he or she will spend time in jail and have their worst beliefs about life confirmed. Good luck and God be with you. This is a conundrum for which, obviously, there are no easy answers. My only reminder is that active nonviolence, if it is to be effective, has to be wise. Though idealism may prompt us to protect every vulnerable child, wisdom requires us to assess each situation as to how effective we can be. There is a saying among prison inmates, that “he mistook my kindness for weakness.” Among kids, particularly kids living in dysfunctional families, the lesson is learned early that kindness is weakness. If you wish to change this view of life, you have to choose moments when your teaching can actually have an effect. Or you have to find ways to create “teaching moments.” Unfortunately we live in a society in which lip service is paid to nonviolence, but there is no real support for it. Lip service is also paid to the sanctity of childrens’ lives, but too often it is only lip service. As a teacher, you have to recognize your limits and know first of all that you are not God, you cannot save everyone. You might not even be able to help most of those you would like to help. If, at the end of your career, you can say that you touched a few hearts for the better, that is a lot.
Don’t give up your faith, but know that faith will often require sacrifice and that there are few people who will applaud you for it. Most will regard you as foolish. Above all, know what you are doing, so you are choosing your action; do not simply react out of your ideals– some people put themselves in danger and when they are hurt, they blame the people who hurt them. In fact, when you risk being hurt, you risk putting the person who hurt you in jeopardy, because you risk the possibility that he or she will spend time in jail and have their worst beliefs about life confirmed.

Good luck and God be with you.

]]>