I am a father of three Hamilton County students and a parent that supports education. I have one child in high school (10th grader), and my other two children are in middle school (7th and 6th grade). I want to bring to your attention an amazing encounter that I had with my children's principle.
My middle child, Charles Ayres III (myself, my father, and my son share the same birth date), is a child who has had learning challenges his entire scholastic career. "Charlie" is a young man of who is much smaller in stature then 90 percent of his classmates. My son also has shown little intrest in getting involved with most of the children in his classes. Charlie is a child that is a "target" for being bulled. This is due to my son's physical size and his less then interested need for a lot of friends. Much of this stems from his learning challenges and his fear of being laughed at, made fun of, or picked on.
In elementary school, I found out that he was being "picked on" by a few boys and the only way I found this out was from other children in Charlie's class. Well, my son has been going to Sale Creek Middle School for the past year and has started his second year this fall. Charlie has continued to have additional education support at Sale Creek, as he did at Soddy Elementary, to help him improve in all areas of his academics.
My son and I are very different from each other. I was an highly decorated athlete and was well known in my school and community. I grew up just outside of Detroit, Mi. and went to a very large high school. Like Charlie, I also had educational challenges and I know how it felt to be laugh at, in my elementary years, when I had difficulty spelling or reading aloud. Many of the students that I grew up with, who shared my challenges in academics, did not find sports as I did. Or other areas of support, and I would say that 60 percent of these students who struggled quit high school by the age of 16-years-old. I would say that 80 percent quit high school before 12th grade.
I had teachers and coaches who believed in me when I did not believe in myself. I worked hard and graduated from college. I hate to admit this, but at the age of eight-years-old, my own father told that "college was not for everyone". His statement came after I told him I wanted to go the University of Michigan. I am now 46-years-old and that statement has been with me for 38 years. Now, I did not attend the University of Michigan (GO BLUE), but I proved my father wrong and just about everyone who had known me since I was in elementary school. Again, I accomplished this by the love and support of educators.
To my point, Charlie had an assignment, actually, I had an assignment, giving to me from one of Charlie's teachers. I had a "1 million word essay" to write. Myself and each parent who's child attended this teachers class where "asked" to write a essay on who their child is. Basically, write a million words or less about our child. Because I believe that it is the parents' responsibility to ensure their children's education is being supported, I wrote my essay on Charlie. When I emailed in my essay, I added a note to my son's teacher and explained Charlie's personality, because Charlie has a much different personality then your average 7th grader.
A day later I received a reply from his teacher. I noticed that the teacher copied the principal as well. The following day I received a email that made me cry. I mean cry like a baby. I am not a small man, I am not a weak man, but I am a man who has seen much in my life. I am a man who has a great love for my children. I am a man who fears daily that I will fail my children as a father. I have worked extremely hard for everything I have ever had and nothing has been given to me. My goal in life is to be the best father that I can. I know that I will never be the best father in the world. I knew that I wanted to be better than my father was, and I want my children to be much better then I. So, I opened this letter and the fact that my son, who is very different then I am, who has been challenged in his academic life, and challenged by me to be "more grownup" has touched so many people in ways that I never knew. When I received the email from Principal Davidson, I know that I had, at the very least, achieved my goal to be a "good dad." I have attached the original email and the "special copy" I had made for myself and is now framed and hanging on my bedroom wall.
I want the city of Sale Creek, county of Hamilton, and the state of Tennessee to know that there are still educators that care about our children. Each and everyone of them, who do not take their job lightly.
I want to add, in just one full year at Sale Creek Middle, my son has improved so much that he has "graduated" out of two support groups. I am told by each teacher that my son is a joy to have in class. That he participates, he offers answers, he even will volunteer to go to the board and show his work. When I reported back to Charlie's mother about how Charlie is a "leader" in class she replied; "are they speaking about our child, our son Charlie?" I replied back to her; "that is exactly what I asked each teacher. 'Are you sure your speaking about my son?'"
Charlie's mother and I have been amazed on Charlie's growth and improvement in schools, since attending Sales Creek Middle. Charlie is now consistently receiving C's and B's in school. This would not be possible with out the support of Mr. Davidson, his teachers and support staff. In my job, I have been working with schools for over 21 years, in and around Detroit, Knoxville and Chattanooga. I can tell you that my son would not be excelling, to me where my son is at, is excelling, without the love, support, and zero tolerance of bullying.
For four years now, I have seen Mr. Davidson in action, and I can tell you that I have met well over 100 principals in my work career and Mr. Davidson ranks in my top two principals that I have met and seen in action. He is a man who has passion for education. Exactly what every school needs.
Charles Ayres, Jr.
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Mr. Davidson's Letter:
Mr. Ayers,
Since I was copied on an email regarding Charlie, I feel as though I must respond. I am starting my 33rd year in public education in the Hamilton County School System, 25 as a teacher/coach and 8 as a principal. I love kids and am very passionate about my job. In the world of public education today, it seems as though everyone has a complaint and all of our educators efforts go unappreciated. It is tough sometimes to say the least, so when a student like Charlie comes along it is a blessing. In the short amount of time that I have known your son, I have come to appreciate his love of life and people, and his overall enthusiasm about life’s little things. In the 33 years in this profession, I have crossed paths with many wonderful people, but none more uplifting than Charlie Ayers. Thank you for sending me such a wonderful young man.
Tobin Davidson
Proud Principal
Sale Creek Middle/High School