Armor, part 1

The Player(s)

[the student] is smart, highly intelligent. Articulate, well-mannered, and thoughtful about responses. [the student]’s attire is older, worn, tattered. Calls home, and to CYFD have yielded no help for [the student], to try to improve the situation at home.

There are other siblings in the home. Some appear well-kempt. Some resemble [the student]. Gender is apparently the driving force in deciding which child receives more deliberate care.

The Setup

Homelessness is a problem here, just like it is everywhere. Last spring, when it was still cold, a community organization provided a winter coat for every student, one that would deal with the temperatures we get where we live.

The Sequence

The day the new coats were given to the school, the reactions that were displayed were many and varied. Some thought it a silly idea and belittled the effort of the community organization. Some were intrigued, but were more concerned with the style of the garment than they were with its functionality. Of all the students, only a small handful looked to be thankful for the new coat. [the student] was one of them.

The Denouement

Up to that day, I had never seen [the student] without a light, sweat-style zippered jacket. It was worn every day, all day, year-round. With everything going on in and around the school, I paid no attention to that tidbit of information. I suppose I wasn’t even aware of my awareness.

I was therefore shocked the next day when [the student] was wearing the new winter coat. It is a much heavier garment, and, like the light sweat-style jacket, was zipped all the way up. Even today, in the hottest part of our year, [the student] is still wearing that coat, fully zipped up to [the student]’s chin.

The new coat, just like the older jacket, isn’t being used for protection from the elements, or even fashion. It’s [the student]’s protection. Like many in the school, [the student] is using clothes as armor.

The Moral

It’s never a comfortable endeavor when trying to determine what motivates students to protect themselves.