Wednesday, I heard from Arizona (her real name). She is a former
student from years back who is now a high school teacher. Among the things she
said was, "....Doc, you've written a lot lately about faith, hope, and love in
the classroom. And, you said you'll write more. Of course, that's been your
theme in everything you've put up, as you always say, into cyberspace. And,
what's more important, that's what your class was for each of us in there with
you, a love story. But, now I have an assignment for you. Could you do me a
favor? I want you to boil all those reflections into one or two sentences that
will be a tighter guide for following through on taking your 'Teacher's Oath.'
I'll give you a few days, but no later than Monday...."
One or two sentences! I'm not sure how I get myself into these
situations. But, it was a challenge I could not ignore. Anyway, picking up
her gauntlet, this what I came up with: Our attitudes drive our actions and
our actions affect our attitudes. Focusing on and making real unyielding,
unconditional, non-judgmental, committed, persistent, inclusive faith, hope,
and love "de-herds" the classroom; they transform "the class" from an "is"
into an "are," from a collective, generalizing, stereotyping, depersonalizing,
dehumanizing, faceless, nameless singular blur into a "gathering of separate,
noble, sacred, unique 'ones'" unclouded plural. When we do that, we have no
choice but to find ways to make each day a moral occasion when the process of
unconditionally helping each and every student to help her or him learn how to
make a good living and to live the good life come inseparably together.
Whew! But, I beat her deadline.
Make it a good day
-Louis-
Louis Schmier
http://www.therandomthoughts.edublogs.org
203 E. Brookwood Pl http://www.therandomthoughts.com
Valdosta, Ga 31602
(C) 229-630-0821 /\ /\ /\ /\
/\
/^\\/ \/ \ /\/\__
/ \ / \
/ \/ \_ \/ / \/
/\/ / \ /\ \
//\/\/ /\ \__/__/_/\_\/
\_/__\ \
/\"If you want to climb
mountains,\ /\
_ / \ don't practice on mole
hills" - / \_
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