*Hearing* Intention over Impact

As a Catholic teacher, I believe that my job is not only teaching the curriculum, but also teaching the Catholic faith and integrating it into various subjects. Since yoga has roots in Hinduism, I would not feel comfortable practicing or teaching it to my students.

Anastasia Chvedova, Professionally Speaking, Dec. 2019

When I picked up the December issue of Professionally Speaking and flipped to the “Letters to the Editor” section, I was deeply distraught. Two letters were featured: one which questioned inclusion, and specifically LGBTQ rights, when it conflicted with beliefs, and one that that advocated for the rights of teachers and students, “who do not feel comfortable with certain practices [meditation]…to not feel…obligated to participate in them” (Chvedov).

To me, these letters reflect hundreds of years miscommunication, of conflict, of war, of incongruity, of distrust, of lapses in compassion; they also reflect a current plague in our society — the inability to move beyond the words we use…a struggle to *hear* intention over impact and to engage in productive conversations.

Meditation and prayer are both expressions of mindfulness and ones that benefit students and teachers, regardless of how it is labelled or practiced. Yes, diction is important in shaping the perception and reception of ideas, but should it be the be-all-and-end-all of our understanding?

Is it possible to move beyond the framing of issues? Beyond our interpretation (pronunciation)? Is it possible to be open to other perspectives?

I’m not sure…I’m struggling to understand the perspective of the teacher cited above…But at a time of conflict and unproductive conversations (in international politics, in regional politics), we must listen to more than the words that are spoken. What are we/they*really* trying to say? And how can we voice our opinions in a way to make sure we are heard (and make sure we are listening)?

Can we listen openly and actively? Can we problem-solve collaboratively?

Can we move away from mainstream coverage of events? Can we harness the courage to hear intention? Can we work together for the betterment of students and society?

We must speak. We must hear. We must be open. And we must model this process for our students — and especially to our government — so that our voices (and the voices of the future) will be *heard*.