Village Mentality

You know the old adage “It takes a village to raise a child.”  What exactly does that mean?  Does it mean that we as individual families are incapable of raising our own children by ourselves?  Does it mean that the more people that influence the lives of a child the better?

My answer to those questions would be “no” and “yes”.  Most individual families are capable of raising their own children by themselves.  Does that mean they should?  I don’t think so…

Think of our classrooms.  Are we as teachers capable of caring for and teaching the children in our classrooms?  Absolutely!  But wouldn’t it make more sense to have all hands on deck when you battle a storm?  Each child is part of an individual classroom.  But we cannot be expected to meet the needs of all the children in our classroom by ourselves.  No one is THAT talented.

If we can view the children as ALL OF OUR CHILDREN, it will make it easier to meet their needs because they are ALL OF OUR CHILDREN.  If we can view the children as ALL OF OUR CHILDREN, it will make it easier to get to know them because they are ALL OF OUR CHILDREN.  If we can view the children as ALL OF OUR CHILDREN, it will make it easier to get to their families because they are ALL OF OUR CHILDREN.  If we can view the children as ALL OF OUR CHILDREN, it will make it easier to step in when help is needed because they are ALL OF OUR CHILDREN.  If we can view the children as ALL OF OUR CHILDREN, it will make it easier to go that extra degree and rise above and beyond because they are ALL OF OUR CHILDREN.

Along with viewing the children as ALL OF OUR CHILDREN comes some great responsibility.  When you see a child struggling to make good decisions when sharing a toy, you can and should offer assistance because they are ALL OF OUR CHILDREN.  When you see a child crying, you can and should comfort that child because they are ALL OF OUR CHILDREN.  When you see a child succeeding in a new task, you can and should celebrate with that child because they are ALL OF OUR CHILDREN.  When you see a child afraid to try something new, you can and should reassure that child and support him because they are ALL OF OUR CHILDREN.  All of these examples should be done even and especially if a child is not in “your class” because they are ALL OF OUR CHILDREN.

The key to remember in this “village mentality” is we are all part of the village.  Just because someone steps in to help with that child, does not mean you are any less of a teacher.  Instead, it sends the message to that child that “we ALL care for you and will take care of you.”  We cannot become frustrated when someone helps a child because they are ALL OF OUR CHILDREN and we cannot do everything by ourselves.  We need help.  Sometimes we need help and can ask for it.  Other times, we need help and don’t even know it.  This is why the “village mentality” can be so powerful.   The village keeps the focus on the child and can be there for the child at ALL times.  Embrace the power of the village and keep the focus on the child. 

These are OUR children… not your children or my children!