In sixth grade, teachers in my city went on strike. Along with other families, my parents donated to a collection for our teacher and classroom aide. Though money was tight at our house, I distinctly remember my mom telling me it was the right thing to do. “Teachers are important,” she said. No one even considered asking me for money. After all, I was only 11.
But a fifth grader in Southern California has done exactly that. Typical of the pink slip phenomenon happening across the country, Arcadia Unified School District sent home notices that 105 staff members (including about 60 teachers) are being laid off for the 2011-2012 school year.
Fifth-grader Jocelyn Lam felt bad about the budget cuts and wanted to do something about it. She wrote an intelligent, heartfelt letter to the school district about her desire to help save the teachers’ jobs. In the envelope, she included a stack of $1, $5, and $10 bills – all of her money, which she earned as allowance and for doing chores.
“I really hope this $300 will help save the teachers that are about to be laid off,” she wrote. “I also hope this is enough to save more than one teacher.”
Her unsolicited donation was accepted. Obviously, her life savings isn’t enough to save even one teacher’s job, but her gesture was enough to spur the community into action: In the last week, GOOD reports that families at Camino Grove elementary school have donated an amazing $20,000 toward saving teachers’ jobs.
A little girl surrendering her small fortune seems unfair and wrong – public school is supposed to be free, after all. Plus, I cringe at the thought of children worrying about financial concepts that even adults find overwhelming and difficult to solve.
But more importantly, I’m inspired by all the things going right here, on various levels.
- A young girl already values education. She didn’t offer this money to a favorite teacher. It’s for the greater good. I share this value, and applaud Jocelyn’s family, teachers, and school for instilling this value so early and so deeply.
- A community was given a simple, genuine example of how to help. They paid attention and decided to pitch in.
- Big changes are born of seemingly small steps by individuals. I hope these students learn an elusive lesson that so few of us do: Everyone can make a difference.
What do you think is going right (or wrong) here?
For more, watch Arcadia Patch’s video of the school principal and young Ms. Lam telling their story.
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