Spreading Goodwill

My first year of teaching, I taught 7^th – 12^th graders in a behavioral classroom setting. Needless to say, there was quite a bit of negativity on a regular basis. That was the year the Goodwill Cards began. Back then they were called Christmas Compliments. (The name changed when I had a student who was a Jehovah’s Witness.) Each student wrote something positive to every other student in the class and the adults they worked with. My first year I wrote less than 20 cards. I have done the assignment every year since for the last 18 years. This year, I wrote 130 cards.

As soon as the assignment is handed out to students, they begin to grumble. How can I say something nice about so-and-so? We have to write them for EVERYONE?! Why do I have to write one for myself? I just smile and tell them they will understand the importance of the assignment when they get their envelope of cards. I know the importance because each year I have students writing to me that they still have their cards from years before.

This year was no different. There was grumbling, procrastination, and questioning. And not just from the students. I was doing the same thing. (As was the rest of my family when they helped me with the sorting.)

And then the day came to give the cards out. It began with the students delivering envelopes to the teachers. Within ten minutes, I had an email from a teacher saying it was the best gift EVER!! In the past, I always handed the cards out to students at the end of the day as they were leaving school. The cards are meant to be between the giver and receiver and are not meant to be shared with friends. It is easier to avoid the temptation when alone. I had way too many students to do that this year, so I gave them out at the end of class. Students sat quietly reading compliments about themselves. Smiles began to light up their faces. As they were leaving the room to go to their next class, as student turned to me and said, “That made me all warm and fuzzy inside. Thank you, Mrs. Victor.”

Throughout the day, both students and teachers alike came to me to say thank you. I didn’t understand the impact of me writing to all the students until I returned to my room after carpool and found a letter on my desk:

Dear Mrs. Victor:

It’s very easy to sit back and tell people to do something. In fact, it can even be fun at times. I’ve found that in life that there will always be people telling you to do something. Whether that person is a teacher, a parent, a boss, or a sibling. But very few of those people show you that they’re telling you to do something for a reason! As some brilliant person once said, “Actions speak louder than words.” And until today, I’ve never seen a better example. The fact that you not only assigned us to write encouraging things to our classmates, you yourself did the same. Anyone can sit back and tell someone what to do, but it takes great character to do so on your own.

Sincerely,

A very appreciative student

Tears filled my eyes. Not only was it worth it for the students to write the cards to each other, the hours it took me to write mine spoke volumes unbeknownst to me. Next year, I hope to see the whole school involved.