Decorations flap a missed teaching moment
I was shocked and amused with your article about the decoration fiasco at Wheeling High School. The Student Council adviser’s upset over removal of potentially dangerous materials was astonishing.
Ms. Chico stated, “This may be perceived as no consequence to outsiders”, but they were psychologically and emotionally devastated.” Devastation is defined as destroyed, unfit to live, empty, or ravaged. Devastation occurs with the loss of a loved one or all worldly possessions, entrapment in the World Trade Towers, destruction by a tsunami or hurricane, losing a limb in Iraq, etc. This situation does not meet the criteria of these forms of devastation.
Chief MacIsaac assumed his responsibility when he stated that the materials were potentially dangerous and needed removal. To me, this was a real teaching moment. It is a story about teaching resilience. You don’t always get what you want in life. And as we get older we find that we rarely get what we want.
Life is hard today and if we do not teach today’s youth how to deal with life’s unpleasantness how will they deal with life’s difficult situations successfully?
Resilience involves bouncing back from life’s disappointments. It involves finding creating solutions to life’s problems. It involves cheerfully accepting what you cannot have and appreciating possession of what you need.
I am hoping that the student council members will not require psychological counseling for post traumatic stress syndrome due to this situation. With the shape our nation is in, I think we could be using our tax money and time in more productive ways.
Saying “No” to this potentially harmful situation may have spared the school from a major devastation. Losing lives to a senseless fire would be devastating. That would have required psychological counseling.
Jacqueline King
Arlington Heights