HELP TEACHING

How to Teach During a Hateful Time

Part 4 — Depression

Photo by Ron Lach on Pexels

This week, I’ve been ushering my kids through depression. If you read my last article, you know we’re working through the stages of grief and we have hit the depression stage full on.

I say “we”, but thankfully I have moved past it which gives me the hindsight to notice it in the children under my care.

Those who are part of marginalized groups are depressed because over half of the country thinks that they are wrong for being who they are.

Those who have immigrants in their families are depressed and worried that they will lose those family members.

Those who have the forethought to be concerned about the environment, the future of healthcare, their college careers, or generally the future of anything are depressed and worried about those things.

They are all depressed that their safe, known way of life will end in January and there is little that I can do to assure them that it won’t.

But, I will not abandon them.

I got a sentiment several years ago from a person who survived the Holocaust as a young child. She said that it’s important for children to know that there is someone who cares about them and will take care of them…