Everybody Counts

Last week at my sons' school's Parent Teacher Council meeting, the topic of Everybody Counts was raised again. Everybody Counts is a program that allows the students to learn about conditions that make life different for people.  For example, what is it like to be blind or deaf or dyslexic or missing an appendage.

Everyone agreed that the idea of the program is a good one and one that we should bring back to the school.  It has been at least 6 years since the program, run by parent volunteers, has been offered at the school.  It is usually a one day event and each grade learns about a different condition.

One of the mentioned goals was for the children to understand that not everyone is exactly the same and that no matter what the differences we need to treat each other kindly.

The topic of timing was discussed.  Someone else had mentioned Catholic Schools Week but the teachers pointed out that week is already crazy busy.  I mentioned that the end of the school year seemed like a good time since the teachers are winding down on graded assignments and it would fit in with Goodwill Games and the Relay for Life walk (cancer related).  A fellow parent said that seemed too late in the school year if we are trying to teach the children tolerance for differences.  That parent's feeling was that the kids would quickly forget the lessons taught over the summer break.

That night it occurred to me that perhaps we missed the boat on explaining what Everybody Counts is supposed to be about.  Everybody Counts is meant to teach the students about the conditions and what it might be like to have the condition.  For example, to be blindfolded and led down a hallway by  someone else trusting that they will not let you run into anything.  Or feeling braille.  Or being able to see someone talking but not able to hear their words.  Or tying your shoes without using your thumbs.

The job of teaching them tolerance began years before they ever crossed the classroom doorway.  That responsibility began with us as parents from the first day of their precious lives.  The idea of tolerance can be reinforced by the teachers at school but the primary responsibility still lies with the parents.

When did we as parents turn over the responsibility of teaching our children values to school teachers?  

I am grateful for teachers who reinforce the great truth "Treat other as you would want to be treated". But if I did not teach them this before school and do not continue to reinforce while they are not at school, I cannot expect them to learn it in the short time they are in school while expecting them to learn all the academic things they need to learn.