A few days ago I had the privilege of going to Solomon Plains Elementary School and reading to the second grade classes. While for many, it stood as a chance to get out of school and have a free day of doing something fun, regardless of the meaning. However, as soon as I saw the book we were given to read, I immediately saw the opportunity for learning that lied in this for both the kids, and myself.
We read to them a book called "We Shall Overcome", about the struggle for African Americans and all people oppressed by racism around the world, and how they fought, and were inspired, to overcome. We then read "Can You Say Peace?", a story of how to say "peace" all around the world. From there we worked on an art project with them, and then asked each of them what "peace" meant to them. The answers we got remained mostly the same: freedom, no violence, no war, good things, being nice, quiet, etc. But when they got the opportunity to get paper and crayons and draw whatever it is they wanted to, it astonished me and brought a smile to my face.
Some drew churches, general places of worship, others drew homeless shelters and people giving what they have to help others. I saw pictures of rainbows blocking out rain and thunderstorms, them and their friends and families standing together. There were drawings of big "x" marks going through war and violence, and even them creating a peace sign made up of words that described peace. It showed not only that they expressed their true feelings of peace much better through art work and drawing, but also that they have a better understanding of what peace is than many adults in the world today. It stands as a precise image of the power the generations of the future hold, and they hope they can give us.
It is easy to talk of how bad the world is getting, but when you spend just a little time looking to the minds of the youth, to see the truth and wonder in their eyes and see how they work, it gives a refreshing perspective of this earth. We spend so much time concerned about educating our youth, but is it possible we can get some educating from them? -Hunter Jones
