Teachable moments represent great learning opportunities–offering lessons that we tuck away and draw on ‘the next time’ we face similar situations. But sometimes those learning opportunities are denied and taken away–trumped by other inclinations.
A “teachable moment” is of great value to a student and teacher, and to anybody, for that matter. A teachable moment is never pre-planned or anticipated. Honest people will admit to having missed some of these golden opportunities, but they’ll also say they’ve used them to their advantage.
Those moments are rare–as memorable as they are–and that’s what makes teachable moments so special. The sad thing is when others disable them from happening.
With that in mind, let me describe what I read recently. It’s about an occurrence that happened last week at North Surry High School in Mt. Airy, NC.
During an improv performance for students about White House jobs, a player made an inappropriate comment about President Trump. Mr. James Moore, a teacher and one of the sponsors of the improv club, describes what happened next. “We immediately called ‘freeze,’ which is the signal to stop the improv,” Moore said. “When we call freeze, it is our way of avoiding a possibly ‘inappropriate’ scene. I coach these students about how to be comedic, but I also engage them in ‘appropriate’ comedy.’
Moore continued: “At no time did I engage in disrespect for the Office of the President. I take the Office of the President very seriously. And as the sponsor of the club, it’s important to me that we use this performance as a teachable moment for all.”
All of this makes sense, doesn’t it? It certainly does to me–a former teacher and coach with decades of classroom and co-curricular experience. What I don’t get–as the late Paul Harvey used to say–is ‘the rest of the story.’
Courtesy: WXII
I don’t get why a parent (present/not) would complain to the police. And I don’t understand why the police would get involved.
Because both of those things happened, a golden opportunity–a teachable moment–was thrown out, and the didactic forces of authority were thrown in.
You would think that reasonable people would pivot to the default option–giving Mr. Moore, the responsible party, the benefit of the doubt and put trust in his judgment to do what’s appropriate.
That didn’t happen in this case and a requisite of any teachable moment was lost. The learning opportunity must be seized immediately–not later that day or later in the week. Teachable moments are just that–moments–that must be captured when they happen.
Anybody who has taught or coached–lived, for Pete’s sake–knows that. Teachable moments represent opportunities to grow by leaps and bounds. Mistakes made won’t likely be repeated. ‘What to do if’ has been internalized. IF teachable moments are enabled.
That didn’t happen this time. And that’s a shame.
