School Bells – Current Affairs – Grade 1 – Week 36
Recently when listening to an On Being podcast featuring a conversation between the host, Krista Tippett, Sheryl Sandberg, COF of Facebook, and Adam Grant, psychologist and professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania I “heard” Mrs. Sandberg stress the role of rituals in the process of recovery from the trauma of the sudden death of her beloved husband when he was only 47 years old. In her case, her Jewish religion provided a framework for some of the initial stages of the grief process. Many no longer have such frameworks to contain the many and varied emotions which accompany major changes in our life. Even such previously common and simple rituals as Sunday dinner at the home of the matriarch no longer happen for a many because of geographical distance, busy lives and a myriad of other reasons we give ourselves.
We are nearing the time when many young people will be celebrating a milestone in their educational history. Around the same time United States citizens will be officially celebrating Memorial Day. For some Memorial Day, will be an occasion to draw customers into stores to purchase various sale items. For others, it will be a time to celebrate school graduations. For some lucky few it will be an occasion to gather with family on a patio or in the back yard. Some will hold on to a family tradition of gathering with their ancestors and those still living. The living will prepare the food and libations to share along with the stories which form the history.
I thought that as these young scholars and I near the end of this school year it would be a good time to think about the purpose and meaning of parties/celebrations and other rituals. I am eager, as always, to hear what they have to share. They are coming into the classroom now.
Me: Good morning scholars.
Class: Good morning Mr. Jim. Cookies?
Me: No cookies this week but next week for sure. I am eager to hear about why you think that parties are important for everyone in the family – birthdays, graduations, weddings, Memorial Day, and other important days. Are funerals also a kind of party or celebration?
Sue: I like it when my mom and I go shopping for gifts or when we make a special card for someone. We also like making cakes for birthdays and graduations.
Me: What do you like about that Sue?
Sue: We have fun and we make people happy.
Me: Very good Sue. I agree. Sometimes we get so busy with work, school, home chores and other activities that we forget to show others how much we care about them.
Steve: It would feel funny to tell others boys and girls how much I love them but when they have a birthday or something it is okay.
Me: That is a very good point Steve. I agree.
Tara: When I work hard it is nice when everyone in the family is happy for me.
Me: I agree, Tara.
Tara: It feels funny and good at the same time.
Tommy: When my uncle died some at the church got up and said nice and funny things about him. I felt really sad but everyone felt sad and good at the same time.
Me: That is an excellent point Tommy. It is good to be reminded that we can feel happy and sad at the same time.
Susie: When our dog died we buried him we said nice things about him and then mom and dad make a special meal. After that we looked at pictures of him.
Me: Why did it feel good to do that?
Susie: If he had just gone away it would been like he never lived.
Sam: Mom said that if we did not do anything at happy or sad times it would be hard to know what to do.
Me: That is a very good point Sam. Sometimes we just feel lost and don’t know what to do. Parties and other rituals tell us what to do. Does everyone know the word ritual? Please raise your hands.
(a few hands go up)
A ritual is like rules which tell us what to do. When someone in the family has a birthday, we know to buy or make a card, perhaps get small gift, wrap the gift, plan a party, bake a cake or pie, and sometimes make a special meal or do something which the other person likes.
We have developed a little ritual here. We have cookies every other week. It is something special to do that says we are all important and worth a treat.
Ahmes: I like that. In our family, we pray many times a day.
Sofia: We pray before we eat especially when my uncle the priest is visiting from Italy.
Me: Memorial Day is soon. What is that holiday?
Steve: Mom and dad said that when they were little everyone make a picnic and they would go to the cemetery with all the dead people. They would clean up the graves and take flowers. Then they would eat and talk about the dead people.
Me: Yes, my family would do that when I was little. Do you still do that Steve?
Steve: No, Mr. Jim. The cemetery is far away and dad suggested we look at photographs and tell stories about some of the dead people in our family.
Me: Great idea Steve. Why is it good to remember them Steve?
Steve: The dead people were parents and stuff. Mom and dad once were little. I saw the pictures and they loved their grandparents as much as I love mine.
Sam: It is funny when I see pictures of mom and dad as little kids.
Me: Yes, we were all little at one time
Sam: You are still little Uncle Jim but now you are old little!
Me: (Smiling) This is sadly true Sam.
Time is nearly up. All of you did a great job. Perhaps for next week each of you could get your family to help you choose a photo of one dead family member, bring it to class and share a story about them.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Me: Steve please hand out the assignment as everyone leaves. Have a good week everyone?
Class: Bye Mr. Jim
Written May 11, 2017
School Bells – Current Affairs – Grade 1 – Week 36
Recently when listening to an On Being podcast featuring a conversation between the host, Krista Tippett, Sheryl Sandberg, COF of Facebook, and Adam Grant, psychologist and professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania I “heard” Mrs. Sandberg stress the role of rituals in the process of recovery from the trauma of the sudden death of her beloved husband when he was only 47 years old. In her case, her Jewish religion provided a framework for some of the initial stages of the grief process. Many no longer have such frameworks to contain the many and varied emotions which accompany major changes in our life. Even such previously common and simple rituals as Sunday dinner at the home of the matriarch no longer happen for a many because of geographical distance, busy lives and a myriad of other reasons we give ourselves.
We are nearing the time when many young people will be celebrating a milestone in their educational history. Around the same time United States citizens will be officially celebrating Memorial Day. For some Memorial Day, will be an occasion to draw customers into stores to purchase various sale items. For others, it will be a time to celebrate school graduations. For some lucky few it will be an occasion to gather with family on a patio or in the back yard. Some will hold on to a family tradition of gathering with their ancestors and those still living. The living will prepare the food and libations to share along with the stories which form the history.
I thought that as these young scholars and I near the end of this school year it would be a good time to think about the purpose and meaning of parties/celebrations and other rituals. I am eager, as always, to hear what they have to share. They are coming into the classroom now.
Me: Good morning scholars.
Class: Good morning Mr. Jim. Cookies?
Me: No cookies this week but next week for sure. I am eager to hear about why you think that parties are important for everyone in the family – birthdays, graduations, weddings, Memorial Day, and other important days. Are funerals also a kind of party or celebration?
Sue: I like it when my mom and I go shopping for gifts or when we make a special card for someone. We also like making cakes for birthdays and graduations.
Me: What do you like about that Sue?
Sue: We have fun and we make people happy.
Me: Very good Sue. I agree. Sometimes we get so busy with work, school, home chores and other activities that we forget to show others how much we care about them.
Steve: It would feel funny to tell others boys and girls how much I love them but when they have a birthday or something it is okay.
Me: That is a very good point Steve. I agree.
Tara: When I work hard it is nice when everyone in the family is happy for me.
Me: I agree, Tara.
Tara: It feels funny and good at the same time.
Tommy: When my uncle died some at the church got up and said nice and funny things about him. I felt really sad but everyone felt sad and good at the same time.
Me: That is an excellent point Tommy. It is good to be reminded that we can feel happy and sad at the same time.
Susie: When our dog died we buried him we said nice things about him and then mom and dad make a special meal. After that we looked at pictures of him.
Me: Why did it feel good to do that?
Susie: If he had just gone away it would been like he never lived.
Sam: Mom said that if we did not do anything at happy or sad times it would be hard to know what to do.
Me: That is a very good point Sam. Sometimes we just feel lost and don’t know what to do. Parties and other rituals tell us what to do. Does everyone know the word ritual? Please raise your hands.
(a few hands go up)
A ritual is like rules which tell us what to do. When someone in the family has a birthday, we know to buy or make a card, perhaps get small gift, wrap the gift, plan a party, bake a cake or pie, and sometimes make a special meal or do something which the other person likes.
We have developed a little ritual here. We have cookies every other week. It is something special to do that says we are all important and worth a treat.
Ahmes: I like that. In our family, we pray many times a day.
Sofia: We pray before we eat especially when my uncle the priest is visiting from Italy.
Me: Memorial Day is soon. What is that holiday?
Steve: Mom and dad said that when they were little everyone make a picnic and they would go to the cemetery with all the dead people. They would clean up the graves and take flowers. Then they would eat and talk about the dead people.
Me: Yes, my family would do that when I was little. Do you still do that Steve?
Steve: No, Mr. Jim. The cemetery is far away and dad suggested we look at photographs and tell stories about some of the dead people in our family.
Me: Great idea Steve. Why is it good to remember them Steve?
Steve: The dead people were parents and stuff. Mom and dad once were little. I saw the pictures and they loved their grandparents as much as I love mine.
Sam: It is funny when I see pictures of mom and dad as little kids.
Me: Yes, we were all little at one time
Sam: You are still little Uncle Jim but now you are old little!
Me: (Smiling) This is sadly true Sam.
Time is nearly up. All of you did a great job. Perhaps for next week each of you could get your family to help you choose a photo of one dead family member, bring it to class and share a story about them.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Me: Steve please hand out the assignment as everyone leaves. Have a good week everyone?
Class: Bye Mr. Jim
Written May 11, 2017
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