To Reteach Students Their Loveliness

My cousin writes that, by the third grade, her students have already learned not to express their creativity. Because of this, part of our job as educators is to realize that it is sometimes necessary

to reteach a thing its loveliness,
to put a hand on the brow
of the flower,
and retell it in words and in touch,
it is lovely
until it flowers again from within, a self blessing

— Galway Kinnell

Sharon Salzberg explains that “‘To reteach a thing its loveliness’ is the nature of metta. Through lovingkindness, everyone and everything can flower again from within.”

I delude myself if I think that I can force the bulbs I plan in my garden to grow. Nor can I force my students to learn. Growth and learning can only come from within. They are self blessings; not blessings that I bestow. Yet, both are assisted in an environment shaped by metta/loving kindness.

On a brisk day last October, I was on my hands and knees covered with dirt as I planted flower bulbs: tulips and daffodils and snow drops and crocuses. Externally, the bulbs appeared very bland and uninterested. Their roots were practically nonexistent and did hold much promise. Yet, because I have faith in their ability, through my actions I tell theses bulbs that they are lovely.

As my cousin has unfortunately discovered, as early as the third grade, her students have been taught to view themselves as drably colored lumps that must go through the motions dictated by their teachers. They have learned, as Harry Chapin sings, that “Flowers are red, young man. Green leaves are green. There is no need to see flowers any other way than the way they always have been seen.”

To approach students with a spirit of loving kindness will often be met with suspicion. They have been successful in their educational careers because they have internalized the message that creativity is not rewarded and that their own interests are not interesting. To take the risk of putting down roots is too daunting a task. Therefore, we must be patient and repeatedly reteach them their loveliness.

Some of the bulbs I planted last October have already found the courage to push up through the still frozen earth. Snowdrops have the most courage. While surviving the harsh realities of February in Michigan , they give inspriation to the crocuses that will soon follow them in March. Later the tulips and daffodils will find their flowers within.

Unfortunately, I cannot expect all of the bulbs I plant to flourish. Some will be so damaged on their trip to me that there will be nothing I can do to revive them. Others will be dug up and eaten by squirrels. Others will take too long to send down their roots and will not survive the winter. And when I am honest, I realize that sometimes I will not properly prepare the soil or I will overlook a bulb and forget to plant it. Sometimes, I will even harm one bulb while nourishing others around it.

While gardening in the spirit of loving kindness, I am able to reteach the bulbs that they are lovely and to help them find their flowers within. Approaching students with metta gives them the same ability; a self blessing.

    –Steven L. Berg, PhD


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One Response

  1. Janice Berg says:

    Steve,

    I have really enjoyed your blog notes. This one I am printing off to post in the elementary and middle schools in Rose City and West Branch as a reminder to teachers there.

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