This is super cute... and a little sad. But inspiring. What would you give to save a teacher's job? Meet Jocelyn Lam, a fifth grader at Camino Grove Elementary in Arcadia, CA who basically gave everything she had in an attempt to stop teacher layoffs.When Jocelyn found out that teachers in her school district were in danger of losing their jobs due to budget cuts, she emptied her piggy bank and donated her entire life's savings -- $300 -- to her teacher: People Are Awesome: Fifth Grader Donates $300 Life Savings to Stop Teacher Layoffs.
Last Friday, Lam gave her teacher an envelope full of $1, $5, and $10 bills totaling $300—money she'd earned over several years for doing chores and getting good grades. She also included a handwritten letter addressed to the Arcadia Unified school board and superintendent, saying, "I really hope this $300 will help save the teachers that are about to be laid off. I also hope this is enough to save more than one teacher." Her donation was completely unsolicited and took the school staff by surprise.What an amazing kid! When I was her age, I saved up money to buy a Nintendo Game Boy. There was no way in hell I would have given up my hard earned Game Boy cash to save a teacher's job. Huge props to you, young Jocelyn.
Of course, the $300 isn't nearly enough to save even one teaching position, but Lam's selflessness has catalyzed the community into action. Since her inspiring letter, the students and parents at Camino Grove have raised $20,000 toward saving teaching jobs and the fund raising has gone district-wide. The effort has gone a long way toward letting the teachers and school staff know how much the community cares. Lam's principal, Dr. Brook Reynolds told Arcadia Patch that he's proud of the students and how they're trying to save the teachers, "because they actually value what the teachers are doing for them." As for Lam, she plans to do more chores—so she can make more money to save additional teaching jobs.