su·per·he·ro
ˈso͞opərˌhirō/
noun
- a benevolent fictional character with superhuman powers, such as Superman.
So does that limit superheroes to one with actual superhuman powers? I did some digging and found the definition in the urban dictionary. This is what I found...
1. A being with extraordinary physical or mental powers, far beyond the range of normal human ability, who uses these powers to protect the innocent and for the general good.
2. One who is granted such powers by some external means, such as advanced technology or magic, and uses them with similar intent.
3. Batman.
2. One who is granted such powers by some external means, such as advanced technology or magic, and uses them with similar intent.
3. Batman.
I tend to believe that radio shows, comic books and Hollywood stumbled upon something when they introduced us to The Green Hornet, The Avenger, Flash Gordon, Superman, & Batman. I mean who doesn't want to believe in something so magical?
But as life goes on, I have realized that a superhero can be so much more than the Merriam-Webster definition! It can mean so much more than simply limiting it being fictional. We all need to believe in the greater good, believe in a life that is full of miracles and miraculous beings. We all have the desire to know that there are special people out there ready to inspire us (save us) from despair and destruction...right?
I prefer to believe in the urban dictionary meaning of a superhero. One with extraordinary physical or mental powers, far beyond the range of normal human ability, who uses these powers to protect the innocent and for the general good. That definition leads me to explaining the purpose of this post.
I am a reading specialist. Today I went to a classroom to get two of my first grade students to work with them. On our way back to my classroom, both boys were commenting on the superhero shirt they had each worn today. Both were wide-eyed and full of belief in TRUE Superheroes. They even went as far as to say that they wanted to be a superhero one day. At first, I laughed it off and thought of it as cute. As our time went on and they continued to talk about their dreams of being like Batman and Spiderman, I didn't have the heart to tell them that they are fictional characters and that they couldn't be a superhero one day for this very reason. They weren't real, but being the dreamer that I am, I would never tell a child that they couldn't do something. As a matter of fact, I tell them the opposite each day. "Sure! You can be a superhero!" "Why not?" "What kind of superhero would you be?" They both held true to both definitions and explained that they would be one that saved people from fires and bad people.
This conversation stayed with me throughout the day. I thought about their desires to be someone extraordinary one day. In my reflection, I thought about my dreams of what I wanted to be one day and I realized that I am my dream. I wanted to be a teacher as a young child. This made me smile. I continued to think of how I could use the superhero conversation to further teach and help my bright-eyed 6 years old students. Tired from our first day back from winter break, I sat down in my chair at the end of the day and started paging through facebook, when something amazing happened.
I came upon a post by Hope King, a teacher at the Ron Clark Academy. It was a video of Mr. Ron Clark and some of his students performing a dance at a welcome back celebration the night before school resumed. The video went viral, and for good reason. The man would do anything for his students and his school. The superhero conversation became crystal clear to me at that moment.
Superheros are not fictional at all. They are real. They are real people that walk among us (if we are lucky). Some people have succeeded at going over and beyond regular human abilities. They have found a way to channel their extraordinary physical or mental powers to protect innocent people and for the general good. If there ever were a superhero teacher...Mr. Ron Clark is him!
If you are familiar with Mr. Clark, you are probably shaking your head in agreement and smiling. If you are not familiar with him, you might want to look him up. He is one amazing man. He gives me hope that I can become a better teacher no matter how long I have taught. People like Mr. Clark are fantastic examples of why little boys dream about being superheroes!
These two young boys helped me to remember that no dream and no goal is impossible.
I say, "Dream on young boys. Never give up on those dreams!" (I also had a little conversation with myself...I told myself, "Dream on Jenny. Never give up on that dream!")
So I leave you with this? What superheroes do you know? What superhero do you dream to be?
Enjoy your day!
Until the next post...
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