Different worlds

This morning, I visited two schools.

I was only there (in each of the schools) for a relatively short period of time, but it was enough for me to recognize both some similarities and some differences that exist.  In both cases, these two places are establishments of learning for students between the ages of 5 and 13 or 14.  Both places have their full complement of teachers and other support staff, and in both cases, the adults present are doing their very best to impart the joy of learning to the students who enter the doors on a daily basis.

Teaching, like living, doesn't take place in a vacuum though.  In some cases, teachers know that their students are ready to learn, but in other cases, even the basic necessities like clothing and adequate food are bonuses, which can't be counted upon.  Knowing these realities gives teachers a heads-up and allows them to function (albeit in a very different fashion) to the best of their abilities.

I was accompanied today on this journey by a former teacher, who herself had taught in these settings, and so was very aware not only with the history of the different places, but the current realities (which in some cases have not changed a whole lot from that time to now).  As soon as this knowlege was shared with the present-day staff, there was a visible relief that appeared on faces, and things just seemed to go a bit easier.

Life is never easy, but the hidden realities with which we deal (each of us) on a day-to-day basis can and do affect how well we do our jobs.  When others come to visit and demonstrate a level of understanding for the hidden realities, even in a non-verbal fashion, there is a level of trust and comprehension established right from the get go ... and life just seems to go along that much better.