interjection
1.
Praise ye the Lord!
noun
2.
an exclamation of “hallelujah!”
3.
a shout of joy, praise, or gratitude.
4.
a musical composition wholly or principally based upon the word “hallelujah.”
Most people know Leonard Cohen's song, "Hallelujah". If you know me well, it will come as no surprise that my favorite rendition of it is actually from MTV's "Unplugged" that featured Bon Jovi. (Click on the purple title at left to see this video.) Someone once asked me why I like Jon Bon Jovi so much (beyond his good looks and radiant smile).
My reply came easily: I love his dedication to living honestly, with exuberance; his humility, and particularly his humanitarian work. He is outspoken enough to try to draw attention to his worries about our world, and he puts money and time into truly making a difference--and he expects those around him, including those accepting assistance, to pay it forward. He is a true philanthropist.
If you want to learn more about this modern-day Robin Hood, check out these links from JBJ's appearance on Oprah's Master Class:
Soul Foundation
Making Connections and Being Your Best, Doing it Your Way
Now what does this have to do with literacy coaching, you ask? (Side note: a couple of my friends have asked me, "Can you link EVERYTHING to Bon Jovi..." Maybe I mistakenly take that as a challenge, not a rhetorical question.)
Get ready for it--
One JBJ quote that applies to my work, my life on a daily basis as a literacy coach, teacher, and human being is,
"Each step along the away is just a life lesson in humility."
No matter how long you work with, teach (or attempt to teach), and care about others, lessons in humility will abound in your life. For this, I am grateful; it keeps me honest, sincere, and always learning. It draws me to a life of service; I love helping others and try to joyfully cope with the diversity of learners (adults and children) with grace. I think that is the crux of Cohen's song and JBJ's message about doing our best with love and humility: "Hallelujah."
This mesage connects to a parody by teachers' hero, Barry Lane. I enjoy his books, his songs, his humor, but most of all--HIS HEART. Which brings me back to the song, "Hallelujah".
Barry has his own school version/parody of "Hallelujah" which is equally wonderful to the Bon Jovi version--not for its musicality or glamorous lead singer--but for its equally heartfelt lyrics depicting the vulnerability and quiet strength of teachers everywhere. (Click on the title in purple to see a video of Barry's singing this at a pro-school rally.)
Hallelujah
I heard there was a secret school,
where teachers make up all the rules,
but you don't really care for teachers do ya?
It runs quite well without a bell,
no one is late,
no one can tell,
and nothing left to sell but,
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
hallelujah, Hallelujah.
Your faith was strong,
but you needed rest,
but then they gave you one more test,
Their madness and their mandates overthrew ya.
They tied you to a scoring guide,
you lost all hope,
you lost all pride,
but somewhere deep inside was
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
hallelujah, Hallelujah.
Baby you've been here before.
You've taught this class,
You've closed that door.
You used to teach alone
before I knew ya .
Together we'll tear down these walls,
raise up a school of golden halls,
where children's learning all is,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah.
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
hallelujah, Hallelujah.
How much gratitude would you feel if you believed that it was "okay" for teachers to use their knowledge about best practices and expertise about what really works for kids to build joyous learning in America's classrooms? Teachers feel extremely vulnerable in this, the Testing Universe of America. (I capitalized it because it's a very real place.)
What if we could, as Barry Lane suggests, reclaim our classrooms, having faith in our abilities, holding onto hope, remembering the 'Hallelujah' of why we became teachers in the first place--we all know it's more than 'a job.'
Why is teaching part of your identity?
Resonating today is the song, "It's My Life" in which Bon Jovi sings, "Like Frankie said, 'I did it my way.'" He says when writing that lyric, he was thinking of Sinatra's song, about working from 'the pure place.' He suggests that this is why that lyric resounds with people.
We all identify with trying to do things our way and value the opportunity to do so.
And this, my friends, leads us back to thinking about Barry Lane's heroic messages to teachers, his relentless battle on the behalf of American children, and how he does it HIS way.
If you could "raise up a school of golden halls where children's learning is a hallelujah," what would it look like?
What is YOUR way?
Yet another link to this idea is Amy Grant's, "Better Than a Hallelujah". (Again, the video is embedded in the purple title, if you want to see it.)
"Better Than A Hallelujah" features these repeating lines:
We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful, the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah
Teachers know each other's miseries, what breaks our hearts--all too well these days. I think the line, "Beautiful, the mess we are," speaks to the humility with which we must approach our work (our lives) each day. No matter how detailed our plans, no matter how educated we are, children will always lead us back to the humility of trying to handle countless human responses in one classroom. But isn't this be beautiful in so many ways?
What is the melody of your teaching that God hears that would be better than a Hallelujah?
Better than simply thinking or saying, "Hallelujah," as a sign of praise or gratitude, how do you practice it in your teaching life?
What's YOUR educator's 'Hallelujah'?
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