For Module 3 Simulation, I had chosen that the main goal I wanted was to “Maintain
contact with all students.” When I worked in the schools, and Covid happened, shutting down the
schools, I made myself readily available to my students, as I did when the schools were opened.
These students needed to be heard and validated for something that they were struggling to
adjust with. Given the area of North Carolina we live in, they’ve had to experience hardships
through hurricanes wrecking their homes and forcing them to move away as they figured out life
outside of school. A lot of students won’t tell us but have hard home lives. So, by maintaining
contact with all students, even for the briefest of moments, gave me a sense of relief, that while
they might not be telling me what was going on in their own worlds, that they were at the very
least alive. This best aligns with Principle III: Responsibility of Students, Section C:
The
professional educator demonstrates an ethic of care.
More so number 3, under this section,
which states “establishing and maintaining an environment that promotes the emotional,
intellectual, physical, and sexual safety of all students” (MCEE – Model Code of Ethics for
Educators). While I couldn’t provide a physical safe space, allowing my students the chance to
have an emotional safe space, where they were safely monitored to talk with one another or ask
questions about assignments, made me feel at least somewhat successful in maintaining my
students’ well-beings. Proverbs 22:6 says “train up a child in the way he should go; even when
he is old, he will not depart from it,” (Kingjamesbibleonline.org) Now, this scripture might not
make sense at the moment, but when I hear this, it makes me think that by giving these students a
safe space and a safe person to talk to, somebody that they can trust, they in turn will seek that
out regardless of how old they are. Will this work for all students? No. But what matters is
helping as many students as possible, and not worrying that we weren’t able to help the others
the way we wanted to. We are helping these students, simply by being available.
References
MCEE – Model Code of Ethics for Educators. (2023).
https://www.nasdtec.net
King James Bible Online. (n.d.).
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org
