Maggie Macintosh
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Winnipeg Free Press
A Selkirk, Man. school superintendent hopes a new storybook he wrote about belonging helps raise confidence in young readers this fall.
Jerret Long is donating copies of his children’s book Rob, The Really Old Ball to Selkirk-area school libraries just in time for September. It’s a tale about a worn and neglected piece of phys-ed equipment that proves to be surprisingly perfect for sports.
“The story is a reminder that maybe, just maybe, the things about us that seem like challenges to overcome are, in fact, the very things that make us unique and special,” an excerpt on the back of the soft-cover book reads.
A red bouncy ball finds a new sense of belonging when, despite being scuffed up and slightly deflated, it catches one student’s eye and becomes the centre of attention during P.E.
The fantastical story, in which various sports balls come to life, tackles themes of resilience, inclusion and self-esteem. It was inspired by Long’s childhood in Lockport and his early career as a phys-ed teacher.
“I see a lot of kids, and I lived a life of, at times, feeling a little bit broken or a little bit not-confident in myself, dealing with a lot of things growing up,” said Long, who is entering his fifth school year at the helm of the Lord Selkirk School Division.
The superintendent recalled feeling lonely and withdrawn after his dad died when he was in Grade 1 at St. Andrews School. Prior to the following school year, his Grade 2 teacher, Irene Stevenson, reached out to his mother to arrange a meet-and-greet.
Mrs. Stevenson’s efforts to check on him as he grieved throughout the year had a lasting impact, he said.
As a tribute to one of his favourite teachers, who died in 2019, Long’s book is set in an imaginary school he named “Stevenson Elementary.”
“She was always a connector … and that’s really the take-away that I wanted to end with — there are so many Mrs. Stevensons out there,” Long said. “There are so many people who do little things that make big impacts for kids.”
Both the nod to his former teacher and the actions of Mr. Wesley, a fictional P.E. teacher at Stevenson Elementary, acknowledge and applaud how adults’ attentiveness can play a hugely positive role in young lives, he said.
The Manitoba Association of School Superintendents released a guide on promoting student belonging in public schools in the spring.
The booklet notes students can feel ostracized if they lack connection with others, experience mental health challenges, are not fluent in the instruction language, do not see themselves reflected in the curriculum, have classrooms that are inaccessible to them, or are subject to racism, microaggressions or bullying.
“Belonging is neither static nor universal,” the guide reads. “Creating positive spaces of belonging for students requires careful thought and intentional planning.”
The recommendations call on teachers to use course materials that recognize different languages, races, religions, gender identities and abilities, among other student diversities, and engage students in ongoing conversations about their sense of belonging.
Many students are grappling with issues related to self-worth, ability and connectedness in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, Long said.
The division leader said his storybook has allowed him the opportunity to be vulnerable with students about his own struggles; he shared a pre-print version with kindergartners during I Love to Read Month.
While Long’s goal is to promote belonging, he said it is also a win if students simply enjoy reading the book.
Métis artist Leanne Thiessen illustrated Rob, The Really Old Ball and it was published by Winnipeg’s Peasantry Press.
“What I really like about it is the simplicity of the story,” said Zig Thiessen, president of the independent publisher.
Thiessen noted that all school-aged children can connect with the imagery of the back-of-the-rack of a phys-ed closet, regardless of whether P.E. is their favourite subject.
maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca
