Be That Someone Who Cares
As part of Spokane School District 81’s crisis team, I was sent to Shadle Park High School recently following the death of Doug McCray, a junior class counselor and coach.
At the beginning of the junior humanities class, the teachers shared the news of Mr. McCray’s death and asked the students to turn their desks to face the center. Then the students took turns sharing their memories. It was a most moving tribute to a man who loved kids and was loved in return. The students said:
“He was like a Dad to me.”
“He took me home and helped me when my dad died.”
“He called my mom and read her a book to help her be a mom to me when things were really going rough.”
“If you consider how many of us he helped out and how many other classes of kids he has given himself to - just think of the difference he has made in this world.”
We should take time to think about the kids this man helped. In doing so, he helped out their families and therefore our very community, because we all own each child and we all suffer as that child suffers. Somewhere along the line, it will touch us.
When you compare a man like Doug and his salary to what is paid to someone who can throw or catch a ball, well, it just doesn’t make sense to me - but that is another story.
There are lots of children out there to be helped along their journey of growing from child to adult. Studies show that “resilient children” survive the most difficult and extreme conditions because there was one person along the way - one teacher, one coach, one grandparent, one neighbor, one counselor - who believed in that child. One person who said by deed or word, “You are a very valuable person.”
What about you? Do you like children? Can you read? Could you give one hour of your time once a week to help a child who is struggling? I encourage you to contact your neighborhood school and offer to give to a child the gift of your time. You will be that someone who says by being there: “You are an important person.”
If you are unsure how to get started, cut out this article, take it into the principal and ask, “Is there a child here I can help?” And then I will say, “Good for you!”
MEMO: Your Turn is a feature of the Wednesday and Saturday Opinion pages. To submit a Your Turn column for consideration, contact Rebecca Nappi at 459-5496 or Doug Floyd at 459-5466 or write Your Turn, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615.