See Me Beautiful

See me beautiful
Look for the best in me
It's what I really am
And all I want to be
It may take some time
It may be hard to find
But see me beautiful
See me beautiful
Each and everyday
Could you take the chance
Could you find a way
To see me shining through
In everything I do
And see me beautiful.
~Red Grammer-"Teaching Peace"

About three weeks ago this song started going through my mind. Anytime I thought about my children this song would play in my mind. I had heard it when I was a child and had not thought of it for a long time. So, when I was standing in my classroom and began singing it to myself and watching my students, I knew I needed to teach it to them. So I wrote the first stanza on the board and sang it for them. They were so quiet. I saw right away that all of them were touched by the words which was what I wanted to see. So I began to teach them the song. They went on to sing it to themselves under their breath as the afternoon went on. We had a short discussion about its meaning. We talked about our class and how some children didn't get along. We talked about how everyone had something special and that the beauty the song is about isn't on the outside but the inside. This seemed to resonate with them and that was when I decided it was time to order the CD.

Well, the CD arrived today. I opened it and played some of the other songs first and they instantly liked it. Max, my grandfather student, said to me, "Ms. Adalia I like this music." He said this more than once. I am happy that I set aside a special moment just for this song. I started by writing the words on the board again and singing it with them. Then I told them that the song was on our new CD. I wish you could have seen their faces when they heard the deep, rich sounding cello and then Red Grammer singing softly. Some of them laughed at first but a reverance came over the room. They seemed to know that the song was for them. It was about them.

Let me tell you, there is no sweeter sound than that of a child's voice singing. Even after the CD was turned off and we started getting ready to go home, some of them continued to sing. The atmosphere changed. I think they began to see each other in a different way. And it was a reminder to me as a teacher that all children just want to feel loved and seen. Oprah once quoted something that Toni Morrison told her. "Children look to see if your eyes light up when they walk into a room."

So now, when I hear them singing I hold back tears because they are beautiful and I get to remind them.

See me beautiful
Look for the best in me
It's what I really am
And all I want to be
It may take some time
It may be hard to find
But see me beautiful
See me beautiful
Each and everyday
Could you take the chance
Could you find a way
To see me shining through
In everything I do
And see me beautiful.
~Red Grammer