Day 2 of Being Grateful

Image credits: Reuters

I shared this photo with my students today. It was taken in Lebak, Indonesia and it shows the treacherous journey some students take around the world just to go to school.  As a teacher at an International Baccalaureate (IB) school, we try to expose our students to the world, allowing them to make connections to places outside their home, city, state, and country...to far away places across the globe.  We have weekly "Images of the Week" that we share with students to give them a peek inside what's going on in the world around them.  Seeing this image of the week this morning, prompted me to focus on education for day two of being grateful.

First, while some may argue that public schools aren't perfect, I am grateful we have them.  Second, I'm thankful that students have safe (relatively speaking) transportation to and from school every day. And finally, I'm thankful we live in a country where education is valued, and where every one has access to it and can use their knowledge to make a better future for themselves.

For more incredulous photos and to read about more of the dangerous journeys some students are taking to get to school, click here.  After news of the above photo spread, it's important to note that a new bridge was built so that students could safely get to school.

This truly makes me appreciate what we sometimes take for granted.