Acceptance

What is acceptance? Merriam-Webster defines acceptance: as the act of accepting something or someone: the fact of being accepted: approval. Approval is so important in teaching children and parenting. Especially in teaching accepting all the children is essential. Your classroom is fundamental to building acceptance for the well-being of the children. You may not like them, but you do have to accept and approve of them. Rita Pierson says it right in her Ted Talk that every kid needs a champion. She also states that you won’t like them all, but the key is that they can never know it and never give up on them. That is acceptance.

Acceptance is shown in so many ways. It is the patience we give a child trying to express his/her thoughts and feelings. We encourage and wait for them to use his words to get it out. It is waiting in a line when you notice a mother with her two kids struggling to keep it together. Acceptance is asking her if she needs help or what you can do to help her. It is seeing that homeless man washing his hat in the rain and not avoiding him but acknowledging him. It is that child that struggles at times with his behavior that needs acceptance. His behavior is because he is being bullied in his class and caring for him is important. It is that child that is afraid to leave school because of the neighborhood he lives in. It is that child that hoards food in his desk because he does not have enough food at home. We need to approve of all children but especially the ones who have struggled. Some children struggle alone, and we need to provide them with an adult that approves of them.

Acceptance is shown so infrequently that we need to do so much more. A smile gives a person an acceptance sign. I don’t believe in the mantra of don’t smile until December, so the students see you as strict and in control. That does not show acceptance. But a hug to a mother that is struggling shows her she can make it. An encouraging word to children tells them they can overcome. A child with special needs to know that he is accepted by others.

Acceptance is needed in our schools. I believe it can change the quality of education just by approving each and everyone that you meet. Acceptance starts with you. Acknowledge the people you see and really see people. Greet people and hold people close. The more we can approve and accept others the more we will improve. Acceptance in school will further the development of children and staff. Acceptance is the key to improving our schools.