Looking Back To Stay Present

A Child-focused Reflection On Remembering What Is Important Now

Children can be our biggest critics. They can be our greatest teachers and a gift of medicine to our lineage, worthy of caregivers who are willing to to the very hard work of consistently trying to parent or care-give well.

Children deserve to be a focus now. Children are whole people. Children are energy experts and are very vulnerable to manipulation due to their dependence on a caregiver and their developing neurophysiologies.

I write today, dusting off my garden boppers from any self-criticism for not writing more until now, (a story also relating to children but for another day), sharing some of my former undergraduate students’ perspectives on what rights children should have.

Circa 2010 - Anonymous Higher Education Institution

It is my first semester teaching an art education class and I am really excited. The group is not too big, about 18 students, mostly young women. I know the classroom well and love it. I hope they will learn something. I hope I ask them some of the right questions. Though, it will probably be me that learns the most…

…my present self reflects with past self as I dust off the course notes I find in storage and read them, a reminder for all of us, in these times of now, to remember the children.

The Assignment

Most of the undergraduates are eager, firm in their choices to pursue an Bachelor’s Degree in Education, and follow that with a Teaching Certificate and begin teaching kindergarten or first grade. I admire them and feel inspired by their willingness.

In addition to some required reading of critical pedagogy texts, I require them to attend community events and write about their experiences. I require them to integrate the intellectual with the artistic and create a final project on what was the most meaningful part of their classroom experience to them and why.

And, I ask them this question, “Every child has the right to….?”

Their Answers

“Every child has the right to do anything.”

“Every child has the right to an education, to protection and security, to speak up and appose authority, to an imagination, to be creative, to choose.”

“Every child has the right to speak out, to ask questions, to have fun in school, to disagree if they feel what they are learning isn’t right, to express their opinion, to HAVE FUN.”

“Every child has the right to respect, love, education, safety, health/nutrition, to be heard, family, friends.”

“I think children have fewer rights than they should have. Yet they have the right to freedom, to speech, the rights everyone else has in a more protective way. However, children should have the right to love, affection, freedom from racial discrimination, hate and any kind of discrimination.”

“Every child has the right to smile, have fun, get dirty, play in a bubble bath, have an imaginary friend, get gum in their hair, cut their hair, be worry free.”

“Every child has the right to food, shelter, warmth, someone (anyone) to vent to, shower/bath/toothbrush/clean clothes, education (no matter where they live I feel that they should have the same opportunities in school), healthcare (I wish!)”

“Every child has the right to a stable emotional environment that will nurture and stimulate their learning, and to be loved.”

“Every child has the right to safety/protection, love, knowledge, play, friendships, family, have a home.”

“Every child has the right to basic needs (food, clothing, shelter, etc.), innocence, protection from physical harm, equal education, creativity, family.”

“Every child has the right to feel safe/have safety, to go to school/education, to speak freely, to ask questions, to say no.”

“Every child has the right to shelter, three meals a day, a bed, attention, jacket, blanket, education, hug, a community, learn to read/write, guardian, financial security.”

“All children have the rights to having a safe environment at all times. They have the right to have a responsible and loving person to take care of them. They have the right to an education not only in school but out of school as well. Also, children have the right to know about society as it really is to allow them [to] learn how to accept differences of others.”

“Children have the right to food, shelter, education, family, people who care about them other than family, certain luxuries like a bath, privacy.”

“Every child has the right to free imagination, free speech, a home, loving family, food/water, caring teachers.”

“Every child has the right to clothes, food, shelter, hygiene.”

If I Could Choose Differently

If I could go back and choose differently with this assignment, I might do this… I might ask them to research the rights of children in our state or country and make a column with their findings.

In another column, I would ask to them list what rights they think or long for children to have.

In a third column I would ask them to write about why that is the case.

I would ask the whole class to share their columns in circle and witness each others’ responses, and longings for children.

Then, I wold invite them to keep their list and continue to be the part of the bridge between children’s current rights and the rights they want children to have.

Why Is This Important Now?

We have a lot of opinions, you and me. We have a lot of ideas and shoulds and strongholds about children’s rights. And I invite us to remember these must be for the children, not for our own convenience and control. There is a tyranny in should that omits us from being part of the solution. There is a tyranny in should that separates us from inclusive and expansive and co-creative solutions.

Parents or not, we all have a part to play in preserving, sustaining, protecting, nurturing children and childhood. If we have not yet done so, it is important to explore what we value and how (or not) we are doing our best to embody those values.

It’s hard work, but when we are willing to change, to do and be better for and with children, our own and others, then we are participating in taking care of our earth - we are participating in intergenerational solutions and care.

To The Students Above

I send blessings your way to these young students, knowing now many might be parents, facing many of the same issues and struggles as part of society now. Some of you might be feeling lost, scared, regretful or maybe not. Maybe you kept that spark, and are doing and being great things. I hope you are. I want you to know how much I cared about facilitating this course with you and how very much you and your children are loved.

P.s. Mother Wisdom circle is this Sunday, 2-3pm CST, an open discussion for paid subscribers, will you join us? Link goes out Saturday.