In case you were wondering...kids do care

I am sitting here, at my teacher's desk, trying not to bawl my eyes out. Filled with joy. Sheer joy and pride in my students.

We have been learning about the Holocaust in my English classes and have started reading Night by Elie Wiesel. In conjunction with this, my kids have been doing research on more contemporary examples of genocide (Cambodia, Rwanda, Argentina, Srebrenica, Iraq, etc). Naturally, no look at present day genocide would be complete without examining one of the most horrific atrocities of all in our time: Darfur, Sudan.

I made a powerpoint with photos and info and introduced it. I told them we would be doing a "Dollars for Darfur" drive in my class - so that we are able to partner with Help Darfur Now in providing aid to the refugees there. I told them that the reason we were doing this was because I wanted their eduation to be real, for them to be learning and doing something that mattered in the world.

When the video was done, my kids sat there stunned. My normally hyper 9th graders were completly silent. Some were blinking back tears. One blonde haired teenage girl in the back raised her hand.

Me: Yes?
Girl 1: Isn't there something else we can do? Us...we...our class isn't enough.
Girl 2: Yeah. They do those breast cancer drives and pasta for pennies and stuff. Why can't we?
Boy: YES! We could put boxes in every homeroom class!
Girl 2: And make posters and Tshirts!
Boy 2: Maybe we could talk to the principal about holding a pep rally!
Girl 1: We could even make bracelets or sell lollipops or something!
Boy 1: Yeah, we've got to do something...

(excited brainstorming and chattering ensues...while I stand at the front of the classroom, trying very, very hard not to cry...)

Let it never be said that kids don't care. They do. And I am awed and humbled by their compassion.

So say a prayer for me. With these kids at the helm, I'm going to be a very busy lady. :D