Standing for Right

Whether you are LDS or not, this is a profound example of standing up for what's right which we want to teach our Esperanza scholars to do.  This is why Service Learning (Social Action)/Character Education/Civics is a part of Esperanza. 

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”  Edmund Burke

Painting from the Art Studio of Rose Datoc Dall's photo


One night the men had been kept awake by the guards, who were vulgarly boasting about their cruel acts of violence against the Saints. It was midnight, and the imprisoned men had been listening to the guards’ filthy language for hours. Unwilling to tolerate the abusive language any longer, the Prophet Joseph rose to his feet and with a voice of thunder rebuked the guards and commanded them to be silent. Parley P. Pratt later wrote, “Dignity and majesty have I seen but once, as it stood in chains, at midnight, in a dungeon in an obscure village of Missouri.”

Speaking out

First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
... and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
- Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)

 

We want our Esperanza scholars to learn how to be actively involved in the community and to speak out.  That's why service learning/social action is part of Esperanza's foundation. 

The Power of One

I have been reading the book The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay.  Last night we watched the DVD.  This book has a great message as Marilyn Green Faulkner states in Back to the Best Books--"...help us believe in the value of each individual and in the power of each individual to triumph over adversity and make a positive contribution to the world." 

Although this particular book and movie are probably not appropriate to share with elementary students they are reminder to us as educators that we need to remember this message and find ways to help our students understand it.  Involving our Esperanza scholars in quality service learning and social action is a pathway to do just that. 

School Factors #4

#19  School environment is safe and orderly and students are always (or almost always) on task
Jane Bluestein's book Creating Emotionally Safe Schools is an excellent resource.

#20  Diversity in student and staff
Each Esperanza educator is a Haberman STAR educator.

#21  Service Learning/Social Action
Barbara Lewis's workshop and book are a great resource.  Sherri Sohm is another great resource. 

#22  Principals are visible and available.