“I don’t know.” That’s what I said to my student.
“But, was it worth all that money to send a man to the moon? You are the teacher, so tell me.” Naturally, I told the youngster that his view on the matter was the one that counted.
“You mean that I can write anything I want on the exam?” was his bright-eyed reply.
“Absolutely!”
“What grade will I make if I say the dark side of the moon is made of green cheese?”
“A++ I’ll be your agent. We’ll be rich!” Then, the kicker: “I am looking forward to your supporting evidence.”

A Lesson Learnt In Seeing Things Differently

This dialogue actually took place in my eighth grade classroom many years ago, and I still look upon it as my favorite student exchange of all time. Why? Back then I was just starting to comprehend the importance of the classroom as an US place as opposed to a ME place or a THEM place. In ME mode, I simply would have delivered a lecture on the significance of our space program. In THEM mode, I would have been cool and detached from my students, as in I’ll do my job and the students can do theirs. No green cheese silliness permitted.
But, the fun was in making the classroom an US place, where both teacher and student worked together to grapple whatever issue was before the group on any particular day. Same thing with camp, and specifically with the COUNSELOR TO CAMPER relationship.

Young counselors have to recognize that when they were campers, they saw camp as a ME place, where every activity was organized with the participation and success of the camper as the main goal. Many first year staff fail to transition from the camper mentality of ME to the proper staff mode of US. ME is a selfish modus operandi and THEM can lead to the dangerous “power drunk” syndrome whereby the counselor lords it over his kids – to the satisfaction of no one. Operating in US, a good counselor has fun at camp, invests in the interests of his charges and specifically involves them in his own enjoyment of the camp program and environment.

Transition Well From Me to Us

Have a sanctioned blast at camp. Include your kids in the wholesome fun. All the rest is gravy. A camp touch football tournament where counselors participate and distribute the ball to players of all ages and skill levels is a good example of US camp. So is the counselor who, under the approving eye of the lifeguards, frolics with his kids during general swim. More on this in another blog. For now, if directors can get staff to glean the significance of ME to US, they are on target for developing strong and dependable counselors. For more counselor information,see our counselor in training program here.