I visited a school Last Wednesday, St. Rita’s Catholic School in Hamden Ct,
I’ve been there before. The principal is someone I’d call a friend, a good
friend. Her name is Sister Maureen. She reminds me of the nuns of my youth
except she smiles and laughs. But like the Nuns of my youth her real strength
and dedication has as its foundation a deep and wonderful faith. It’s obvious
when you hear the students speak to her, always with respect but never in fear.
I like that about her, how the kids see her, respectfully. And not with
surprise that’s how she treats them, respectfully.
I had spoken with the students I was scheduled to meet with before,
so I wasn’t certain how many would remember the talk we had about bullying. It
was a year or so ago and for many kids yesterday’s lessons are not always
remembered and applied today…Yesterday was yesterday and today is today…nonetheless
I was hopeful.
Upon entering the school I was joyfully met by the School
secretary who remembered my name…that was a surprise but encouraging. Because I
was early I had time to visit a teacher, Ms. Robinson who I had worked with for
many years at another Catholic School in Hartford. It was wonderful seeing her again. We spoke of
the kids we both knew and the difficulties she faced when making the decision
to leave the school and the children she loved. But the decision was made and
she left Hartford. St. Rita’s school is
lucky to have her; she is a brilliant teacher and a strong advocate for kids.
She asked me to say hello to her students in her new school. Surprisingly they remembered me and some of
the lessons I spoke of a year ago. Just as surprisingly I remembered many of
their faces. They were a little older but still children, their excitement to
see me was infectious. After a few quick “hellos” and “I remember what you said
Deacon Miller”. I left Ms. Robinson’s class and walked down the familiar
hall to see Sister Maureen and her 8th grade students.
As I drew near to the room I could hear her gentle voice. Her
words were muffled by the closed door so I couldn’t understand what she was
saying, but the sound of it was familiar. When I opened the door all the faces
in the room turned towards me. “Deacon Miller, Deacon Miller, Deacon Miller!” A chorus of young voices echoed in my heart. Dear God I so love what I do.
I spoke with them for nearly two hours. We spoke of the problem of bullying, exclusion, cruelty and meanness. We spoke of anger and racism. We spoke of stereotyping. They were well prepared, for they had just seen the documentary, “A Class Divided.” Their discussion of that film was brilliant.
The film was recorded in 1968 by a forward thinking teacher who divided her 3rd grade
class into two groups… kids with brown eyes and kids with blue eyes and the
consequences that occur when you pit one group over another. It is an intriguing look into the human condition of power and separation. If you haven’t seen the film I highly recommend it.
Sister Maureen gave her students the remarkable opportunity to see and evaluate human behavior. I pray they are moved by this film and the lessons Sister Maureen teaches them.
When I left the class I was escorted by two students Mike, an outgoing, loquacious tyke, a certain future attorney, and Victoria a child of great intellect with a delightful smile to match…
I must return.
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