Last Lecture, We Simply Read, and The Finger

Last Lecture, We Simply Read, and The Finger

Last Lecture

I would love to credit for this idea, but I can’t. This comes from a book titled The Last Lecture, which is a fantastic read about life, death, and the living that takes place in between.
As a teacher and the end of each school year, I would teach or share my “last lecture” to students.
It was a letter written to each of my students linked here. And then, depending on the class period, and how well they had come together, I would read it to them on one of the last days of class. After which we would have a huge cinnamon roll hug. If the classes weren’t ready for it, I would email out the link to a Youtube video (here), so they could watch it at a later point.

Every once in a while I get a student who goes back to the letter or video and then contacts me. Not to make you read anymore but to understand the rest of this post contextually you should probably read the letter before moving forward. A former student contacted me today and shared the following (I am sharing with his permission).

I just watched the final lecture again after my buddy Jem (obviously, not his real name and a character from TKAMB) told me to. Wow. After going through various experiences and morphing into somebody far different than 9th grade me that lecture is so much more insightful. You were right. Some of us weren’t ready to experience the lecture. To be honest, a lot of what was said went over my head, but now I understand.

Mildred’s do suck, and looking back I was a Mildred for the longest time! I was so arrogant I had just assumed I was a Clarisse. I look back at what I have learned about myself over the past few years and now I think, “If only I listened to the lecture.” There are so many parallels it’s almost funny.

I also understand what you meant in my yearbook. “Learn to let people love you.” I was so arrogant, ignorant, immature and stupid. I’m glad I suffered. Because it’s allowed me to learn. And there is no better teacher than experience.

I’m thankful for the lessons you gave us and I’m thankful I can start to understand them in a new light.

I don’t know where I was trying to go with this. I’ve had a realization and I would like to say thank you for the video/text format lecture. It’s going to help a lot. I’d like to share this quote from one of my favorite songs. “Watashi wa chodo nani ga juyo ga.” Translated it means “I’m trying to find just what’s really important to me.” It’s been my guiding light for the past while.

As an educator, this is what I want and what sustains me. I want to help young people become the best version of themselves possible. I want them to love literature and writing, but also to enjoy themselves and love the world around them. This quick message made my day. This student will be just fine, he is reflective, smart, funny, and has a caring heart. Love you Dude!

We Simply Read

The following conversation took place as I was helping kids with the new class rotation for DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) today.
“Mr. Campbell, so we just read?” A 7th-grade student asked me today.
I replied, “Yup!”
“Every day?”
“Mostly,” I answered.
“Like, whatever book we want?”
“Yessir, We simply read!”
With a big smile,”That is so awesome.”
I then helped him get on his way to his first period.
It’s not perfect, and some of our students fake read or avoid the task as much as possible. But for a lot of our student body, and a majority of our staff, spending 30 minutes a day reading is perfection. Myself included.

The Finger

(Disclaimer, this is probably rated PG-13)

After school, I was standing behind a group of friends that were talking and goofing around. One girl had her back to me and jokingly gave the boys in the group of friends the finger. The boys saw me as I approached and started oohing and awwing. The following transpired.

Me: Hey, we don’t do that here, and frankly you shouldn’t do that anywhere. Do you know what that means?
Her: No. (Face turning bright red).
Me: Well it’s pretty inappropriate, and I’m sure you would be even more embarrassed if your mom had to explain it to you. It basically means F off!
Her: What?
Me: Yes. And to be even blunter, it means you are telling him that you want to shove your middle finger up his backside. (Boys snicker behind me)
Her: That’s disgusting.
Me: I agree. Please don’t do it again. It doesn’t mean whatever you think it means. And I don’t want to have this conversation with your parents. I know you don’t. Can this be a reminder that we need to be kind, even if we are just goofing around with our friends?
Her: Yes.
Me: Boys, this goes for you as well.
Boys in unison: Okay, Mr. Campbell
Me: Have a great day and walk home safely.