Teaching from the heart: all children are our children
- thinkersmeetup
- Jul 14
- 4 min read
I had already been working in education for almost a decade before I had my own kids. I admit that my work, my view of education was drastically altered by becoming a mother. When my kids didn't just slide into the traditional school system as expected, I was forced to take a look again at education. Why did we do things as we did? Why did we expect all kids to do the same? I started rethinking the structure of education.
Research consistently shows that children learn at different paces and through different modalities, yet our one-size-fits-all approach often leaves many behind. When I watched my own children struggle with standardised expectations, I realised how many of my former students might have flourished with more individualised approaches.
But it was more than that. I suddenly realised that when I left my children with a teacher, I was entrusting them with all my dreams, my work, my sacrifices. That in their hands I left my heart. And this led me to see my students differently. They were no longer just my students. Each student was suddenly someone's child. I now knew the love of a parent. I knew the pain of a parent. And I realised my role as an educator was sacred. Every child, every student, that steps into my class now becomes my child. For as long as I am entrusted with them, I will look after them as I would want someone to look after my own children. I will see their beauty, their uniqueness, their potential. I will guard their hearts. I will treasure their minds. I will encourage them. I will expect the best of them. I will seek to inspire them, I will use humour, and I will check in to make sure they know they are safe, they are cared for.

In practice, this means I am always more interested in making sure each Thinker feels safe to learn as they need, than making sure I am cramming certain curriculum down their throat... learning their interests beyond academics, and creating meet up agreements together rather than imposing rules. When a student struggles, I ask "What would I want for my child?" rather than simply marking them down - as I once did when I started teaching decades ago.
I have heard it said before and I 100% believe it: there are no 'other people's children'. They are all our children.
I cannot understand how we can watch the news, where children are being hurt, where children are being kidnapped, where children are being left alone, their parents taken without due process by violent, racist regimes, and not feel heartbroken. When we watch children cry in fear, how can we not cry ourselves? They are not someone else's children. They are ours.
This connection between classroom and world becomes clear when we consider that educational equity and human rights are inseparable. The same systems that fail children academically often fail to protect their basic dignity and safety. The knowledge and understanding that supports the valuing of each human life, comes from a global, critical education.
Education does not stop in the classroom. Education does not stop in the home. Education is about the world we are making for our children. It is about making sure every child is safe and making sure we are creating just structures for every child to thrive into the future. A society where every child can learn, explore, laugh, and image a world that is better: more sustainable, fairer, more beautiful.
It is a wonderful thing to be able to create classes where my students can discuss anything that comes to their minds, and where they feel safe to do so. Where we can ask questions, push each other to think more deeply, review facts. Where we are learning. This education is based on freedom – freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of thinking. We cannot take these freedoms for granted. Freedom requires practicing active listening, thoughtful communication, and empathy. As I have told my students: I don't care what you think, as long as you are willing to meet with others and politely discuss your views, listen to others, learn, and change, or inspire change.
For this to happen we have to use our voices. We have to keep speaking. We have to keep conversations going. And we have to speak up to power. Democracies are only democracies if the people have a voice. So please speak up.
Here's how we can start:
Write or call your representatives/MPs about education funding and policies that support all children
Attend meetings and advocate for inclusive practices
Support organisations working for children's rights both locally and globally
Engage in conversations with fellow parents and community members about what we want for our children
Vote in all elections - use your voice.
Don't expect others to do it for you or trust that it will happen. What is happening in the many parts of the world right now (USA/Palestine/DRC!) is horrifying and it is a desperate call to remind us of the importance to keep speaking, to keep learning, to know the law, to hold governments responsible. We do it for our children - so they will grow up in a world that is not destroyed by violence. We do it for all the children, because children depend on every adult to advocate for them, to keep them safe!
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