Ride That Bicycle!

One of the more requested gifts from Santa Claus is a new bicycle. And that is no wonder as the realization that having a bike of your own equals a certain level of freedom for the rider. In many European countries, bicycling is the primary form of personal transportation as it enables the population to move about without having to find fuel and/ or large parking areas. And since the more ancient cities were built before there were internal combustion engines, the streets are too narrow for conventional 2-3 lane wide automobile traffic. So when a child asks for that new bicycle, they are signaling they are ready to begin another level of growing up.

Now teaching a child to ride a bike is definitely not for the faint hearted nor the non-running type as there will be running involved and good judgment of when to release the bicycle. As the teacher, it is imperative to know how to simultaneously hold on and let go of the bike and the child so forward launch is achieved without falling down. And once that first realization occurs for the rider that they are riding by themselves, their life will be forever changed and elevated! This euphoric moment occurs many, many times every day in classrooms all over. And having had the opportunity to teach at the collegiate level, I, too, have experienced that moment with my students.

The feeling of freedom that begins with the mastering of the bicycle or, really, any obstacle, is very heady and personally inspiring. The teachers in Forney ISD experience it regularly in their classrooms, and the teachers who had their grants funded by the Forney Education Foundation experience it at a different level with their students. And that is one of the many reasons that FEF fundraises– to be able to fund more grants every year. Because of the giving nature of the Forney Family, the Foundation was able to fund 66 grants for this school year. Are you ready to help teach someone to ride a bicycle on the street of knowledge? Then please go visit www.forneyisdfoundation. org and see how easy it is to be the helper!