Dayton Daily News education reporter Scott Elliott writes about schools, kids, teaching and learning.
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The teachable moment
I was watching the end of the Super Bowl in 1995, a surprisingly good game between the upstart Pittsburgh Steelers — with fresh-faced third year coach Bill Cowher — and the loaded Dallas Cowboys, a team that today is remembered as one of the greatest in NFL history.
Somehow the Steelers were down just 20-17 to this powerhouse lineup filled with future Hall of Famers with under five minutes before an interception sealed the game for Dallas.
For some reason, I just remember seeing this clip of an obviously disappointed Cowher leaving the field with his dejected team as the Cowboys celebrated, when he came upon his wife and three young daughters standing near the tunnel. The youngest, then age four, was crying her eyes out.
And Cowher broke into a sympathetic smile, scooped her up in a hug, looked her eye-to-eye and said, “Aww. It’s O.K. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.”
I was just struck by what a great lesson that was, in that moment, for Cowher to to be able to put it all into a realistic perspective for his children.
So it was nice Sunday, after a decade of football disappointment, to see the Cowher family again on the sidelines doing a celebratory group high-five in the waning moments of the Steelers’ Super Bowl win over Seattle. There is a nice account in a column by Rick Reilly in this week’s Sports Illustrated. (Sorry I don’t have a link. You can only get it online at cnnsi.com if you are an SI subscriber.)
Parents, remember Cowher’s lesson. Involve your kids in your moments of elation and disappointment. Explain what’s happening in a way that keeps it all in perspective. It’s a great way for children to learn about how life works.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Categories: Teaching and Learning
Comments
By Dave
February 11, 2006 11:19 AM | Link to this
The comments here seem to be somewhat “off track”. Getting back to “The Teachable Moment”, you gave a wonderful example illustrating an important point. Thank you.By virginia simmons
February 10, 2006 12:57 PM | Link to this
You and your readers might be interested in this new flash cartoon about the No Child Left Behind Act just released by the American Federation of Teachers. Check it out here: www.LetsGetItRight.org/cartoon. The American Federation of Teachers believes strongly in NCLB’s goals, but as education professionals, we know that the law needs some important reforms in order to meet those goals. The cartoon www.LetsGetItRight.org/cartoon also links to a micro-web site and blog about NCLB. We invite you to link to it as well. We’re hoping this cartoon will spark some much needed debate about NCLB. Please let us know what you think. And I am happy to provide you with more information about the campaign and the flash movie, if you’d like. Thanks, Ginny ~On behalf of the American Federation of Teachers www.aft.orgBy Scott Elliott
February 10, 2006 7:14 AM | Link to this
Yes, Mary, thanks for pointing out that the Holmgrens also a great example of a family that keeps their work in perspective.By Mary
February 10, 2006 6:42 AM | Link to this
I prefer the story about Holgrem? (the Seattle coach) whose wife and daughter did not make it to the Super Bowl. They were on a mission to some impoverished area in Africa. (Holgrem’s daughter is an ob/gyn and his wife had been a nurse serving in the same area years ago. Their trip was scheduled before they knew Seattle would be going to the Super Bowl.) That, to me, is a more teachable moment to children - that there are many things more important things in life and our world than going to the Super Bowl (as Coach Holgrem? pointed out).