Shotgun Daddy: What Can I Do?

Mission Statement

This site has no agenda, and its author has no chip on his shoulder. He promises not to whine about "fatherhood equality," and he'll do his best not to sound superior. He is, afterall, just a dad. Instead, he promises to tell good stories about his three kids. That's about it.

I haven't used this space to write at all about Hurricane Katrina, but it hasn't been for lack of reaction. It would be impossible not to be affected by the steady stream of stories and images of the tragedy that struck the Gulf Coast last month, and I'm sure I felt the same emotions that most people did.

First there's disbelief followed by the inevitable tinge of guilt as you wonder what it would've been like if it had been your family struggling for survival -- which leads to the only question that matters: what can I do?

For me, the answer was to talk to my students. I teach 8th grade English, but I've always felt like my responsibility to my students extends beyond the state curriculum, so when school started I ditched my usual opening day routine and spent the time talking about the hurricane and showing them pictures of the aftermath. Some knew about what was going on, and some didn't, but they all understood that something had to be done.

In each class the question came before I expected it. What can we do? In each class I pulled a five-gallon Sparkletts bottle from behind my desk and ceremoniously dropped a dollar bill inside. I told them that while I certainly wouldn't miss that dollar, there were families in New Orleans who could make good use of it. I explained how the strength of our country lies in the power of its citizens, and that by allowing our spare change to work together we could help. In one of my classes, a boy stood up while I was still talking and emptied his pockets into the bottle.

For a week and a half my students dropped their coins and dollar bills into the bottle in a display of compassion not always shown by eighth graders. I was touched by the generosity of these students, kids who have grown up in a low socioeconomic area and aren't always aware of what's going on in the world around them, but I wasn't prepared for what happened on Tuesday.

Katherine is a quiet girl who sits near the back of the room and rarely speaks in class. When she came to me on Tuesday morning she was holding her piggy bank. (Technically, it was actually a Pikachu bank.) There was a hole where she had broken it before coming to school, and I could see where she had written herself a warning on the back: "Katherine: Do not spend! Save for laptop!" I'm not sure how long she had been saving, but she told me there was probably at least thirty dollars inside. And then she poured it in the bottle.

A minute later another teacher walked by my room. When I told him about what Katherine had done, he was so moved that he immediately opened up his wallet and took out thirty dollars of his own to match her donation. For the rest of the day I told everyone who would listen about Katherine and what she had done, and the reaction was always the same. Faces glowed and hearts filled with joy. With her selfless gift, Katherine had proved that the act of the donation is often more important than the amount.

The bottle on my desk now holds $128.36. That's probably only enough to take care of a family for a day or two, but I think it means even more than that. It shows us that we are not powerless, and it reminds us that every one of us, even a thirteen-year-old child, is capable of making a difference.

Comments

The selfless generosity of those who can least afford to give is the most touching thing in the world. Great post. The charity of young Katherine is truly moving.

On a side note, I have a strong feeling that you're one of those educators whose students remember 20 years from now and remember as a positive and formative influence on their life. Kudos to you.

Posted by: MetroDad | September 15, 2005 at 05:52 AM

That is such a moving story! I am teary after having read it. Being 13 is one of those ages where self easily can gobble up importance over anything and everything else. Being able to surpass that is admirable. You've got a great group of kids!

Posted by: Giao | September 15, 2005 at 12:01 PM