the safe harbour hat

the safe harbour hat

As children of the 50s my brother and I knew what a safe harbour meant, literally.
Growing up in a small port town, we would roam the beaches, the rocks and the wharves until the tide or the weather turned or it got dark. The chances of us getting into strife were minimal as all the while we were supervised by invisible eyes all of which knew us and our parents and grandparents.
I was Queen of all I could see….
But times have moved on and not all children have that same carefree childhood.  Too many students have so many impediments in their lives that the routine of going to school is their one security, although sadly for a number it is school itself that is the impediment.
Across the globe and the generations libraries have been a safe haven for those in need, and the school library is no different,  How many stories do we hear in which the teller refers to seeking sanctuary in the library during breaks in the school day?  How many times does a teacher librarian state that the library’s role as a safe harbour is one of its key functions?
However, is it enough to offer just a safe physical environment for those seeking refuge, or is there more we can do to reach out to these students?
the invisibility cloak
Many students try to be invisible at school.  If they blend into the background then perhaps the tormentors and the demons won’t find them and they can be safe for a little while.
But being invisible is not a natural part of the human condition. In a recent hospital stay, as sick as I was, I still found a natural need to be more than someone’s case study, more than the patient in Bed 2, more than another face on a pillow, or body in a bed. Even though I had something rare and life-threatening, I needed to be Barbara, a unique individual who had something to say and something to offer. So I found myself telling people that I had been a teacher for 50 years; that I lived in the peace of the bush and the noise and busyness of the city hospital was overwhelming; that my mum was a pioneer for female journalists… anything that might strike up a conversation and a relationship that took me beyond invisibility and anonymity.
And so it needs to be with those who choose the library as their safe place, because our self-esteem and self-worth are inextricably entwined with our sense of belonging, the belief that we matter to others and their perception of us (or what we believe it to be.) So, even some thing as simple as saying, “Good morning, Jemima” (where knowing and using the student’s name is critical) has a sub-text that tells Jemima that
she is worthy enough for you to acknowledge her presence
she matters enough to you that you have made an effort to recognise her, know her name and use it
her struggles are recognised and you have acknowledged her courage in coming to school today even though that might have been very difficult for her
That, in itself, might be the reason she comes to school again tomorrow.
going…