From the mattress to the musical stage

Before her feet, a group of first graders sat Indian style on the colorful carpet in the center of her classroom. She opened a familiar book, “Corduroy,” and began to read.

Most of us know the story of the teddy bear named Corduroy. He lives in a department store, hoping to be bought by a loving child. One day a little girl wants to take Corduroy home, but her mother denies the request because little Corduroy is imperfect. He is missing a button. That night a disappointed Corduroy searches the entire store for a replacement button, finally finding one on a mattress. I don’t want to ruin the rest of the story for those who haven’t read it, so I’ll stop right there.

As Mrs. Afton Pownall of Britt David Magnet Academy looked among her little first graders, she noticed some blank stares. Finally, a little hand was raised, “Mrs. Pownall, what’s a mattress?” I’m sure stifling her desperate shock at this lack of awareness, she calmly began to explain that a mattress is the soft part of the bed that we sleep on.

Moments like these help teachers realize the vast chasms existing in the lives of some of the students sitting Indian style on the floor before their feet. For Mrs. Pownall, such a moment revealed the sad reality that no matter how hard teachers try to identify with their students, sometimes the differences between teacher and student are often too overwhelming to even comprehend or imagine.

We could make a lengthy list of the many things that separate the haves from the have nots. As in the case of reading a child’s book like “Corduroy,” most of us take for granted a simple thing like a mattress. Most of us have the resources to spend thousands of dollars on the perfect mattress to address our finicky sleeping habits, while others in our community, including some of Mrs. Pownall’s students, have no concept of what a mattress is. Alarming, isn’t it?

But there is one thing we all have in common. One thing bridges all gaps and can unite even the most destitute with the most affluent. Music.

Inside all of our children is an innate star waiting to be inspired and developed. Sometimes all it takes is a willing teacher to awaken and cultivate the talent. Mrs. Pownall is such a teacher.

She has dedicated her life and her career to offering all children, regardless of what they sleep on, the opportunity to find the star within themselves. And she does so through the power of music.

This year’s Britt David fourth- and fifth-grade performance of “Aladdin Kids,” drew 76 student participants, 46 performers and 30 crew members. Ten faculty members joined forces to make the production a success. The amount of participants is impressive and highlights the power music has to bring a school together and bridge gaps between what often divides.

Music also has the potential to bring a community together. With such a large performance crew, Britt David Academy’s little cafeteria stage was too small to accommodate the production. So, Mrs. Pownall reached out to nearby Britt David Baptist Church, which graciously agreed to become the host for “Aladdin Kids” and the 76 students. Every Tuesday and Thursday for many months, Mrs. Pownall and her troupe walked to the church for practice. The students were taught the value of reciprocated respect, learning how to appreciate and take care of what had been provided to them and leaving the church building always as they had found it.

The production was a grand success.

Now Mrs. Pownall receives messages on the impact of her efforts. Messages like an email from a fourth grader’s parent calling the musical “the one bright spot” in her son’s fourth grade year. She gets abundant affirmation on the power of music to inspire a child. I can only imagine how fulfilling Mrs. Pownall must feel. All the blood, sweat and tears she puts into the presentation of music to her students must be worth the price when she realizes the difference music is making in their lives.

Some of our community’s music-loving kids may not rest their weary bodies on plush mattresses every night. Many may never meet the star living down deep within themselves. But 76 more of our kids have been given a better chance at pleasant dreams because of teachers like Mrs. Pownall. That’s a lot of kids. So, thank you, Mrs. Pownall, for teaching us and our children about the value of a little bear named Corduroy and the precious gift music can offer.

This story was originally published July 19, 2016 at 2:32 PM with the headline "From the mattress to the musical stage."