Wow! What a walk this morning. The horned-shaped amaryllis did
more than trumpet just a hint of spring. It was a show to behold, a sight
to feel: the cool, muting fog softening and blurring sharp edges allowing
the splotches of purples, reds, lavenders, pinks, and oranges of Azaleas
to flow into one another; the clumps of wisteria blossoms dripping from
trees like globs of purple paint as their vines wound around trunks and
branches like pythons; the pine pollen giving everything a
golden dusting; slowly greening lawns and blackened streets and dark
rooftops spotted by a blizzard of lazily falling flakes of "Georgia
Snow"--soft, white petals of dogwood flowers plucked from the branches and
thrown about by a balmy breeze; choraling birds; the nourishing softened
light coming over the horizon.
As I walked through this impressionist painting, I was thinking about one
of those chain up-lifting letters that I occasional find in my mailbox.
This one was about people whom we remember, people whom we remember
because they made a difference in our lives. And, that got me to thinking
about what are the qualities of those educators who make a difference and
who will be remembered. As I left tracks in the light blanket of "Georgia
Snow", I came up with these qualities:
Educators who make a difference are not the ones with the credentials.
They know title, position and acclaim don't buy class in a class. They
are the ones with the concern for each student as a wonderful human being.
They fight not to leave anyone behind. They understand how important each
person is and deserve their individual attention.
They understand that concern does not necessarily come at a convenient
time or in easy ways. They understand that concern takes as many forms as
the individual needs of individual students themselves.
They understand that no hope is the only false hope. They know "it" all
can't be done in a day, a term, a single class.
They know that many students, like many faculty, act annoyed or angry
because they feel powerless, disrespected, unnoticed, and voiceless; that
under a student's hard shell is a human being who wants to be appreciated.
Sometimes all a student needs is an ear to listen and a heart to
understand. And, no matter how serious an education may be, sometimes a
student just needs a friend with whom to act foolish and laugh and smile.
They know that to ignore a student doesn't either make that student go
away or change him or her.
They are always alert and sensitive, knowing that a "passing" comment or
"innocent gesture always sticks. So, they know that the "little
'insignificant' stuff" that goes on in a classroom everyday can have grand
consequences.
They understand they are not value free and that educational institutions
are moral forces.
Educators who make a difference are not Greek playwrights; they understand
that spiritual exhaltation is a more serious subject than spiritual
affliction.
They understand that students will put in more effort to find joy and a
sense of accomplishment than to find fear and unhappiness. So, they
students pleasure from learning, adventuring, discovering. They
understand that bitter is not the same as better.
They move slowly so they see, hear and feel the details.
They are slow to criticize, slow to judge, slow to condemn, and slow to be
defensive.
Educators who make a difference are people of unending second chances and
know that the opportunities to reach out and touch are always there and
never lost. They have patience and "cool it" when they reach the boiling
point.
They do not surrender to negatives about a student.
The bottom line and last word is that educators who make a difference
understand that the bottom line of teaching, the last word of teaching, is
helping people, is building up fellow human beings, showing respect for
each person.
Educators who make a difference know that the first mission of the
teacher is to make the soul dance. They are like a a dawn of hope, a
nourishing light coming over the horizon.
Make it a good day.
--Louis--
Louis Schmier [log in to unmask]
Department of History http://www.halcyon.com/arborhts/louis.html
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, GA 31698 /~\ /\ /\
912-333-5947 /^\ / \ / /~\ \ /~\__/\
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