Title: School Bus Driver Rallies Community Around a Sock Drive for Needy Students
NEAToday: Educators in Action- Education Support Professionals
By: John Rosales
October 27, 2016
Key Points: The article is a great representation of the ability to make a difference. Martha Alvarez is a bus driver who saw a need for socks amongst the students she transports to school. Seeing this need, she took the steps necessary to help the students of not only her bus, but of the entire school district. She started small and eventually moved her way up the chain rapidly getting in touch with district level officials. There is now in place the annual Warm Toes Sock Drive.
Intended Audience: Education support professionals, teachers, district representatives and community members.
Relevance: Poverty is a problem which many of our students face every day. It is also not extremely apparent in all cases; some people go to great lengths to hide it. Martha Alvarez saw a way to make even a small difference in the lives of our students and she did everything in her power to make it happen. As educators, we need to have that spark, the desire to help our students in any way possible, even if it is small. Alvarez makes a great statement, “It didn’t matter why the kids didn’t have socks. Maybe it was due to poverty or neglect. What mattered was that they needed socks to stay healthy and be ready to learn.” Sometimes we need to stop analyzing the Why and just help the students when we have the ability.
Good example, Christopher, of how one person can make a difference in the lives of others. Isn't that what we're all about here?
ReplyDelete“Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work.”
― William Arthur Ward
There are so many news stories that are negative, sad, tragic, and scary, but stories like this need to be heard as well. In recent weeks I have had kids asking me about the possibility of a Trump presidency, threats from other countries and the brief clown scare. I always try to have honest conversations about these things but I also try to point my students to positive in the world. Remember the words of the great Mr. Rogers: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” ― Fred Rogers
ReplyDeleteI love stories like this!! I try to post as many of them as I can in our "The-Media-just-wants-to-scare-you-and-make-you-hate-others" world. I even tried starting a #TellTheStoriesOfTheGoodOnes but it hasn't caught on yet. I like to use stories like these to teach my children that you can make a difference, even as "the little guy."
ReplyDeleteI like the "it didn't matter why the kids didn't have socks" point. I feel like the bottom line is often missed when people try to help others. It doesn't matter if their parents are poor, or too busy working to wash socks, or the kid just loses things and doesn't have any - bottom line is there is a need we can fill! What a powerful message. thank you for sharing this.