Anyway, it was a depressing piece. Today at Maggie's Farm they posted another perspective on schoolchildren from an imperiled culture who were doing well in a charter school. The author also described the experience of similar kids in an Outward Bound program:
Of course, taking 16 kids, many of whom came from troubled homes and whose lives were mostly confined to a few blocks in Brooklyn, into the woods for six weeks produced its share of drama. Outward Bound crews go through a normal process that starts with a certain formality and descends into homesickness, alienation, irritation, and conflict, before people adapt and bond and shoulder their responsibilities and really get into it, and this course was no exception. After a few days, one girl decided “this is b***s***” and set out to walk home – about 200 miles. An instructor walked with her, mile after mile, until she got tired and agreed to go back. She went on to complete the course, and cried at the graduation because she had to leave her new “family.”That's my image of a guardian angel. He won't force you to do what's best, but he'll follow you into hell and be ready to lead you back when you see your mistake.
4 comments:
I wonder what the effect would have been had he not been right with her, but instead maintained an overwatch from beyond her knowledge but close enough to intervene had trouble actually arisen. And appeared to her only when she sat down and tried to figure out how to go on or to turn back.
Eric Hines
Your angels need good shoes. :)
Sometimes its better to know you're being watched.
There was a lot of posturing going on there, and at some point, it has to be demonstrated that, well, all the bravado in the world doesn't cut it when the rubber meets the road, so to speak.
Saw some similar stuff in the Army.
And make no mistake, it is culture.
Post a Comment