Wow! It is all happening at the school! The David Louis Memorial School is where all the mushers in Grayling stayed last night. After caring for their dogs they came into the school to prepare their own food. Then the race chatter began.
“Where is Lance?”
“How long did it take him to get to Eagle River from Grayling?”
“How long did it take Hugh?”
“Has Sebastian taken his eight hour?”
“How many dogs does he have?”
“Which of the other mushers have made it to Eagle River?”
“How long did it take them?”
“What’s the weather forecast?”
“Is there more wind upriver?”
“How long have the front teams been resting?”
And on the questions went with each new arriving musher. You could see each one weighing the information and working out what they should do next. How long should they rest? When should they hit the trail? What a treat it was to be a part of their camaraderie and conversation, to glimpse into their world.
At the time they were so thankful to be able to come into the school, out of the wind. But not for long. They didn’t enter this race to escape the elements. In fact, fundamentally, they entered it to test themselves against those very elements. It’s the whole point-in a weird way, they are truly in their element only when they walk out of the school, step back on their sleds, and bark, “Hike!”
Speaking of being in one’s element, I am spending a lot of time in schools while I am in Alaska, both on the trail and off. As an educator, it is both instructive and fascinating to see how others deal with the challenges all educators face in one way or another: space, weather, technology, curriculum development, discipline, etc, etc. Character development is one of those challenges, and one of the reasons the Iditarod has always had a strong pull on me-it exemplifies so much of the character that we are trying to instill in our students and children. So, while visiting in the Athabascan communities of Nikolai, McGrath, and Grayling, I have thrilled to see this list posted in each of the schools. It is entitled, “Athabascan Values.” Compare this list of good character traits to the character education program you use in your school.
Athabascan Values
Self Sufficiency
Hard Work
Care and provision for family
Family Relations
Unity
Humor
Honesty
Fairness
Love for Children
Sharing
Caring
Village Cooperation
Responsibility to Village
Respect for Elders and others
Respect for knowledge
Wisdom from life experiences
Respect for the Land
Respect for Nature
Practice of Traditions
Spirituality
The sharing and caring by teachers for their communities and for these Iditarod mushers has been truly remarkable. School is a vital part of these communities well after 3 o’clock in the afternoon.
Watch the slide show presentation!
Watch the slide show presentation!