She responds creatively to tough times and teaches us all

Suppose your middle-school child came home the first week and told you, "Well, today in band practice we played our pencils."

Would you believe that story?

That's exactly what Sacramento music teacher Donna Pool had some of her beginning band students doing at Arcade Fundamental Middle School. Maybe she took her cues from Professor Harold Hill in the musical, "The Music Man."

You're looking at a teacher who was determined enough to risk being called a fool. I'd call her a hero. See if you agree. 

Here's a synopsis of the story. This year at Arcade so many new students signed up for the new beginning band class that there weren't enough instruments for everyone. Did Donna Pool rant and rave? No. Did she blame funding cuts and tell her students to start carrying signs? No.

Instead she said they would work with what they had until they had more. Then she  began teaching them basic fingering, using pencils and ballpoint pens. 

The word got out. She was interviewed by the Sacramento Bee and local television news crews. Even CNN picked up the story.   
  
Instruments started pouring in from all over town and around the country, all they need and more. The excess will be added to the San Juan Unified School District's inventory. Anything over that they'll donate to other districts. (She encouraged callers to take their instruments to schools in their own communities.)

As for Donna Pool, apparently she remains refreshingly down-to-earth, even turning down an interview with NBC's Brian Williams. She attributed the lack of instruments to adding a new beginning band class this year, rather than budget cuts. However, she says, "Arts don't get enough money.  Schools don't get enough money."

Nevertheless, Pool must be doing something right. During her five years at the school the program has grown from 120 students to 190 students. Currently about a third of the school's 600 students play in one of their five bands. 

This is one of those win-win stories about people helping people that makes us smile, isn't it? I think we can draw a lesson or two for ourselves, as well.

• Instead of spending their energies bemoaning what they missed, Ms. Pool and her students sucked it up and found a way to make it work. We can, too.
• It's possible to keep moving toward our goal even when conditions are not what we would choose.
• Creative thinking can lead us down interesting paths--and sometimes that's just what's needed--so it's good to always have a Plan B ready.
• Doing unto others as we would have them do unto us has not perished from these United States.
• Helping others feels good.
• When we get involved we can make things better in our community and in other places.
• Money is not the answer to everything. 

 This story matters because at any age it's easy to get stuck in what's missing in our lives. We endlessly replay all the things we wish were different. 

That takes us nowhere.

My grandmother lived through her share of hard times and doing without. She used to say, "Do the best you can with what you got."

Not very good English, but that's exactly what Donna Pool did. She modeled that truth for her students and taught them a life lesson they won't forget.

It's still good advice. Whatever our age, whatever our situation, every one of us can lift our hearts by being on the watch for ways to contribute our time and efforts. 

Even if "all" we can do is pray for individuals who do a good job or give them a few words of encouragement now and then, that could mean the world to them. We'll be blessed, too.

And it won't cost us a cent.

Here's to stepping out in faith,

Lenore

Note: Photos are from the Sacramento Bee, which carries the full story on www.sacbee.com