Being Moved to Move

The prompt I gave my English 12 classes for their end of unit assessment for Wonder was, how has this book changed or enlarged their thinking? Most students admitted to this book being very thought-provoking and moving in many ways. Many lessons can be gleaned from this beautiful novel, including not being quick to judge, being intentional about kindness, the importance of perspective, or even the seriousness of bullying in our schools. However, I equate this to hearing a rousing sermon in church or making a new years resolution; if we do not actually act on our convictions and our immediate passions and make them a habit they won’t stick.

Wonder is a truly inspiring book, which has enlarged all of our thinking about how we treat people and how we judge people. We have a very divisive world, in particular in the political arena at the moment. Judging people quickly, not considering their perspective, not choosing kindness, and not standing up to bullying in the adult world is having a trickle-down effect in our schools. The goal I have for my students is to literally take the themes from this book to the hallways of Lawrence and to the outside community. There have been some truly tragic events in the news recently, in which hate and judgment are rampant. I do not ever want our students to think that there is nothing they can do about these events.

I happen to be an English teacher, and while I want my students to be better readers of literature and better at expressing themselves through writing, what I really want them to become are even better human beings. If we can be decent human beings first, we can then learn how to use our power of written expression, oratory, and service to help make the world a better place. We also don’t have to pass legislation or march on Washington to make a change (although those strategies have their place). If we can make it a commitment to truly act on our convictions and make it a habit to choose to be kind to others, not rush to judgment, and stand up for others, people will take notice and I do think it can spread.

I have a picture frame, in my office at home, that was given to me when I left my former school. It was a picture painted by a former student that said, “Maybe we can make a difference, we the people.” Making a difference can be done in very small, intentional steps and acting on what we know is right. I choose to be intentional in creating for myself a mindset of extending compassion to others and choosing to be kind even when I’m worn out, exhausted, or frustrated with the world. Let us all be moved by books such as Wonder, but let us also choose to move in a way that makes a difference in the world.