I just finished watching the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why……… it has had a profound impact on me! It really made me think of not just my own children, who are of teenage years, but also my students. Even though they are still little, it made me ponder on what is happening in our schools to make sure that the area of bullying is addressed. We have to listen to those small cries of help. We have to be there for our kids. There were so many subtle hints given by Hannah, the character in the movie, and no one seemed to pick up on them. The part that hit home the most was when she went into her counselor’s office and basically told him how unhappy she was. She told him she did not want to live anymore. She told him that she was raped and he told her to do something or to move on. It broke my heart. How many students ….. children do we have around us who may be feeling and going through the same things and we do not see the signs or even take the time to see the signs.
This all goes back to building those relationships. Getting to know our students. Talking to them and letting them know that we are there for them. Building the trust with them so that they feel comfortable in coming to us when they need help or they just want someone to talk to or someone to hear them. Relationships, relationships, relationships!!!!!! They are so important !
This has made me think of what I can do this coming school year to expand my realm of relationship building. What can I add to what I already do to make my students feel more comfortable and safe in our school environment. I spend a portion of the school day building relationships. I focus on teaching the children to be kind to each other and to all those we meet around us. I realize after watching this series that I need to do more to ensure that my students and the students in my school feel that they are valued and important. Continuing the relationship building and spreading the kindness is a start in the right direction.