Dear Jarrow Parents,
Yesterday while holding the tragedy and horror of what happened in Parkland, Florida, most of us found ourselves in search of any available light.
In the afternoon, I had the fortune of stepping into Upper Elementary music class. Monica and the students were experimenting with parts and harmonies of John Lennon’s epic work, Imagine. “You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one . . . I hope someday you’ll join us . . . and the world will be as one”.
Familiar words to most of us, but how the sentiment deepens with the passing of time, and a day like today. “If we are to teach real peace in this world,” said Mahatma Gandhi, “we shall have to begin with the children.”
And Sonnie McFarland (luminary in the AMS Montessori world) called Peace Education a “Montessori best practice” (Montessori Life, January 2005).
While this is not time to generalize hope, or try to soften reality with optimism, where would we be without such things? While our hearts break in light of what happened in Parkland, Florida, may our calls to action, whether personal or political, never lose sight of our everyday contributions to a better world by raising our children to be kind and thoughtful members of their families and the greater good.
Below is a link to the song, “Kid’s Prayer”, written by Dan Bern. It was released in December 2012, just after the tragedy at Sandy Hook. The first part of the song is a soulful rumination on what’s unspeakable – and it also includes apt admonitions and affirmations for us parents.