Seeking A Solution 




By our continued and earnest pursuit
of character, we bring our own deportment
and conduct frequently in review.
. . . This constant habit of surveying ourselves,
as it were, in reflection, keeps alive all the
sentiments of right and wrong and begets,
in noble creature, a certain reverence for
themselves as well as others, which is the
surest guardian of every virtue.

--David Hume 



Years ago, we saw a science-fiction movie at the El Dorado Springs Drive-In. I have no idea what the title was and I only recall one scene from the movie. There was some kind of inter-galactic war taking place and the small craft which was being attacked was manned by a space captain and a by of about ten years of age.

As they were maneuvering through the attacking space crafts the captain turned his glance to the boy and said, Things are always happening that you don't expect. You can look at them as obstacles or as opportunities. He went on to say that those who saw the unexpected as an opportunity were the survivors.

I believe that the lines of that character contain a great teaching tool for our youth.

Two off my former students help illustrate the matter of obstacles and opportunities. (The names are fictitious.)

Johnnie was a first grade student close to 35 years ago. Each time that I would appear in his classroom. I would announce to the children what art materials we would be needing. One day when I said we would be using our pencil I noticed that his hand was immediately raised.

"What do you need, Johnnie?"

"Mr. Baker, I ain't got no pencil."

I believed that even though I was teaching art, I also was to teach grammar. So I said, "Johnnie, do you mean that you 'don't have a pencil?'" His reply was, "Uh huh, I ain't got no pencil." I failed.

The next art session I told them we would need our crayons. Again Johnnie raised his hand. This time, he told me, "I ain't got no crayons." The very next time he said, "I ain't got no scissors." And another day he said, "Mr. Baker, I ain't got nuttin'."

I was never able to get my grammar lesson taught. But there was a great obstacle that I could also not deal with. One day as I passed by Johnnie's desk, I knelt down to look at his work, and Johnnie said to me, "Mr. Baker, last night my daddy threw my mommy out the front door on the ground and told her never to come back again."

I had Johnnie as a student twice a week for 30 minute classes. What could a special teacher do in that amount of time? Very little except extend kindness and offer a little comfort.

Johnnie had external obstacles in his life over which he, as a six year old, had no control. His world was controlled by the desires of adults.


And then there was Jimmy. Jimmy was a seventh grade boy who had difficulty believing in his abilities. Jimmy would just blurt out, "Mr. Baker, I've gotta problem."

I would always reply, "No, Jimmy, you are seeking a solution." And he would say, "Yeah, I gotta problem."

I was trying to teach the old half full/half empty glass lesson; the negative vs. positive attitude lesson; the obstacle vs. opportunity lesson. But it was a challenge. Jimmy also had a problem.

Finally the other kids got my message. They would join in and say, "Jimmy, you're seeking a solution!" And one day, Jimmy spoke out with, "Mr. Baker . . . I'm seeking a solution." Cheers rose from the other classmates. "Yeah, Jimmy! He's seeking a solution!"

You see, Jimmy didn't have an extraordinary external adversaries in his life. His adversaries were internal. His obstacles were within himself. And I was attempting to help him understand that not only were the obstacles to success within him, but also, the opportunities to succeed resided there.

Each of us encounters difficulties on our life journey. We can see them as obstacles, or we can view them as opportunities upon which to build. 





 

 

Posted: Sat - August 7, 2004 at 10:15 AM        

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