We all want to be accorded the basic human dignity of being acknowledged
This story takes us back several years. I was fairly new to teaching at community college after many years of teaching elementary and middle school.
I was trying to be up to date with technology. No “old school” for me, so I thought. Using a wooden pointer was so old school and being as vertically challenged as I am, not very effective. I decided to go high tech.
I needed a laser pointer.
Of course there are many different schools of thought as to whether or not using a laser pointer is ever a good idea. Some believe that they should not be used at all, while others think that if used correctly, laser pointers should be used sparingly.
At this point in time, what really mattered was that I wanted one.
Problem seemingly solved. I would go to the nearest office supply store and purchase one. How difficult could that be?
This issue would become more complicated than one would expect, looking at it from the outside.
I walk into an unnamed office supply store, go to where the laser pointers would otherwise be hanging, and find the place where the laser pointers should be blaringly empty.
But being the resourceful man that I am (I am after all, an educator), I look for resolution to the issue at hand.
Finding a friendly sales associate, we proceed to look for the item online and place an order. I pay for the laser pointer at the counter, about $20.00. Within a few days, the laser pointer would be delivered to my residence and I would join the myriad educators already equipped with this high tech device, for good or for bad.
A few days later my order arrives at my residence. A rather large box I thought, for one laser pointer. The box was about one cubic foot. Quite a lot of packing peanuts or bubble wrap, I thought.
I proceed to open the box and my jaw dropped. Inside the box, to my surprise, was not one laser pointer, but the entire case of laser pointers – about two dozen!
As you can imagine, all kinds of crazy thoughts entered my mind. But the most powerful thought was of course that I must do the right thing. I would take the case of laser pointers back to the store, minus the one I bought.
I arrive at the unnamed office supply store with the case of laser pointers and ask the friendly sales associate in front that I must speak to the manager about an important issue. I did not tell the friendly sales associate the nature of my issue.
The manager comes out to see me and I relate the story of how a couple of days ago I ordered one laser pointer, paid for it, and waited for the laser pointer to be delivered to my residence. When I got to the part of opening the case, I opened the case for the first time for the manager. Inside the case were twenty-three laser pointers, with an obvious gap where I removed the one I had previously paid for.
Not that I was expecting a medal or a trophy, but without even a “thank you” the manager took the box and walked away, disappearing into the back of the store. I was left standing there stunned, without even an acknowledgement for what I had done. Sure, doing the right thing without reward is what we do, but without even an acknowledgement?
It all comes down to this: as human beings we should all be accorded the basic human dignity of simple acknowledgement.
Service industry people: I know you’re busy on the phone or helping other customers. I see it. But a simple acknowledgement of my presence there as a valued customer goes a long way.
Educators: can we acknowledge our students before they do something to get our attention?
Manager of the unnamed office supply store: I did the right thing because it was the right thing to do. Others would not have. Still others would have stopped shopping at your store.
My challenge to everyone: acknowledgement costs nothing but means so much. Let’s get busy…
