Our flag was at half-staff again last week. Sometimes I wonder how many times we will see it in the next few years. Scary, isn’t it?

The horror at Virginia Tech makes my mind race as I think of the many angles I could take in the writing of this column. The kids, their families, the shooter, his family, bullies, forgiveness, the role of teachers, mental illness, gun control, our kids, our families, our schools.

Even though Frank preached about it last week, I have to discuss the role of the teacher and, in particular, Professor Librescu. He is a hero, yes! But he was acting as a teacher—not as a hero. He was protecting “his kids” - his flock. Doesn’t matter how old they were. When they were in his class—and even beyond that—they were, in some part, his. And he had the duty to protect them.

I heard one commentator say that Professor Librescu did not have to bar the door from the gunman. After all, he was only their teacher. I stood up and yelled at the commentator. Obviously, he knew nothing about teachers. Professor Librescu was doing his job although you will never find it in the job description. No one would dare add it. It doesn’t even come under “and any other duties as assigned”, because no one would have the nerve to assign it. It is an assumed duty by most teachers—because they love their kids.

Most teachers do love their kids. And they don’t have to be little kids in order to be loved. I was a teacher for a long time and I understand it but I’m not sure that I can express it.

Over the years, I have known a lot of folk who would have done exactly what Professor Librescu did. They would bar the door to protect their kids. It can’t be in the job description. And so, it must be in the love.

I wanted to be there. I worried about all at Virginia Tech until Professor Nikki Giovanni spoke at the Convocation. Then I knew that the kids and the staff were in a good place and in good hands. I knew that while Professor Giovanni was a poet, she was more importantly a teacher. And she was looking after her flock.

Good teachers are all poets and soloists although they may never create a rhyme nor sing an anthem. Professors Librescu and Giovanni exemplify the best qualities of our teachers.

Go, Hokies!

Sally

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