Counselor’s Corner - President’s Day Issue

Dear Teacher,

Two weeks ago while traveling to a high school in Indiana, I spent an hour-long car ride with my Uber driver.  Searching for stimulating conversation, we landed on his heritage as an Englishman of long-traceable decent.  Steeped in the history of his ancestors, he outlined his bloodlines with detail and pride.  "In fact," he shared, "my passion for history and genealogy even led me to write the Queen of England once."  "Really?," I responded with incredulity.  "Did she write back?"  "No," he answered.  "Her health was declining, so her Private Secretary did instead.  She did, however, directly invite me to visit her next time I go home to my birthplace.  I just felt badly that she was under such health and political pressures that it impacted her life longevity.  And yet she took time time reach out."

In reflection of my driver's concern for his country's leader, I reflected about our concern for the U.S. leader's health and political pressure.  Students think about this, too, it turns out, as a Highlights for Kids magazine study reveals that, out of 2,000 kids ages 6 to 12, 65% don't want to be president when they grow up.  Why?  Because, even at their young age, they recognize the stress, pressure, and health implications that presidential leadership has on the person.

And yet, students can have a great impact on a President's outlook, as shown by the NARA's historical children letters archives.  These special hand-written messages, such as John giving Nixon advice on eating his vegetables as a way to overcome pneumonia, and Phyllis relating to Truman over their pet cocker spaniels in a letter captioned "Just Between You and Me," demonstrate the special influence a child's words can have on a world leader.  Even 15-year old Bobby Kennedy was penpals with Roosevelt, sending stamps back and forth for their mutual stamp collections.  In a 1984 letter to President Ronald Reagan, seventh-grader Andy Smith wrote, "Today my mother declared my bedroom a disaster area.  I would like to request federal funds to hire a crew to clean up my room."  Truly, students can have a direct influence through their natural humor and sweetness on a President's stress and pressure.

So this week in celebration of President's Day, consider having your students write a Letter to the President and Vice President. Use this as an opportunity to combat the negative media around the presidency or critical messages they may receive at home, and instead uplift the President and V.P. for the service they do in leading our country.  These "just-between-you-and-me" moments may actually bring health and wellbeing to our country's leaders, right in alignment with I Thessalonians 5:12, which says,

"We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work."

Praising God for your leadership in your classroom,
Mindy Salyers
Christian School Counselor