Here I am with a freshly brewed cup of coffee at my side. It's a
little before 5:00 a.m. I went out real early. The air had a nip of a
refreshing and invigorating chill in it, but not enough to give me pause
about putting on a shirt.
As I glided through the quiet and enveloping darkness, I was
thinking about that voice at the other end of the telephone last Friday
afternoon. I hadn't heard that voice in a long time. As soon she started
talking with a "Hi doc, I guess who this is." I didin't have to. I jumped
up from my slouch as if jolted by a shot of electricity. My heart started
racing. As we talked, tears came to my eyes. There was a time or two my
voice would have cracked had I had to say something at that moment.
I will only say that she had called me to tell me all was getting
well. At the end of the conversation, she said, "I want you to know again
how such a little thing as that Tootsie Pop you handed me in class and
gave me another chance when you said, 'Let's make this Day One,'--and
meant it-- was such a big thing to me. Don't ever forget that what you
may think is not a big deal, is." And she hung up with a "I'll keep in
touch."
I slowly put the receiver down. I could barely move. Everything
was so quiet and seemed to move so slowly. I just closed my eyes and took
slow, deep breaths. I felt a bright and burning after glow that has yet to
wane. It is such a joyous feeling that I almost wish it proves to be an
eternal flame.
I know I am being secretive. Sorry about that. Only six people
know the story about this particular student. None are on campus. For
the present, let's leave it that way. Enough to say, that her final words
burned into my spirit with a demand that took away from me the option of
being resigned, that eliminated the choice of becoming a cynic, that
forbade the appearance of a feeling a hopelessness, that prohibited I lose
faith and belief, that did allow me to become burnt out. She demanded
that I not focus only on information and method. She demanded, no
commanded, I sharply focus as well on that oft ignored dimension of
teaching--the human dimension. She has made the choice for me to be an
incurable "hopeholic."
Slowly, as I was reliving that conversation as I have been all
weekend, desperately fanning the flames of that inner glow, at about the
two mile mark of my route, I began to hear a voice from on high emerging
from the heights of my inner spirit. As that voice spoke, I began feeling
like Charleston Heston turning his face into the rock as divine, flaming
fingers etched words in the stone. As I heard my inner voice, I realized
I was forming a moral framework, a set of concepts that give me clarity,
direction, purpose, satisfaction, fulfillment, and, ultimately, joy. I
picked up my pace. I was afraid I would forget what I was hearing. I ran
the last mile, slammed open the door hoping against hope I wouldn't stir
my sleeping angel (thankfully I didn't wake her), grabbed a cup of coffee,
and surrendered control of my fingers at the keyboard:
TEACH TO THAT ONE STUDENT:
always be there for that one person. Each student is an American
treasure, an invaluable piece of the future. Each is as valuable
as our national parks, as stirring as any bird's melody, as
towering as any redwood, as majestic as any snow-capped summit, as
glorious as any landscape, as beautiful as any flower, as
entrancing as any seascape, as moving as any sunrise. Each is a
noble and scared human being
TEACH WITH AN UNSHAKABLE FAITH IN THAT ONE STUDENT
Stay the committment. Focus on the journey, on the "ing" of
thing, not on the "wished for"or "prayed for" goal; focus on
today's learning, not on the prayer wishing they would learn
TEACH TO THAT ONE STUDENT WITH A UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
Nurture that struggling soul reaching out for acceptance. Love
brings meaning to teaching that particles of information
and the movement of method cannot.
TEACH TO THAT ONE STUDENT WITH A BOLD COURAGE
Stay in the light, be at home in your inner light and shut
out those around you who would turn off the light
TEACH TO THAT ONE STUDENT WITH BOUNDLESS EXPECTATIONS
Each moment in a classroom is a moment of power, a moment of
change, a moment that can make a difference. Big events
and great ideas can happen in small spaces like a classroom.
TEACH TO THAT ONE STUDENT WITH YOUR SPIRIT FIRMLY SECURED IN AN UNSWERVING BELIEF
Don't just look for a miracle every day; find one and see it and
celebrate it. Be that busy bee that always will find sweet nectar
in the most unlikely and unexpected places
TEACH TO THAT ONE STUDENT WITH YOUR SPIRIT SECURELY ANCHORED IN UNENDING HOPE.
Never surrender your hope. Hope won't let you expire. It
will drive you to aspire and inspire. A teacher can't be a
complete teacher without hope.
TEACH TO THAT ONE STUDENT WITH AN UNRELENTING AND UNCOMPROMISING TENACITY
When there is a setback, when there is a disappointment, look for
the flower budding among the jagged rocks, that single bloom in
the supposedly lifeless desert. It's there
TEACH TO THAT ONE STUDENT WITH AN EXCITED "WOW!!" NOT A TIRED "YUK."
Celebrate each step as a milestone even if others don't know about it
or think its only an inch and a pebble. Whatever little part you do
is far better than doing nothing.
TEACH TO THAT ONE STUDENT WITH AN ETERNAL SMILE IN YOUR SOUL AND ON YOUR
FACE, AND A TOOTSIE POP IN YOUR HAND
Exercise, utilize, build up those tiny muscles around your eyes,
cheeks, and lips. Tiny they may be, but powerful they are. They
can lift up a heavy heart and weighty spirit, and release goodness
from the body and soul. A smile is a flashlight that shines your
spirit, enthusiasm, and optimism for each student, on each student.
Ten. Interesting. Anyway, I know that to the extent I can follow these
commandments, make myself answerable to them every day for every thought
and action, I just may help sweeten an otherwise sourness in someone's
spirit. Do that, and who knows, I might do something important along the
way. Do that, and who knows, I might help make a life--or save a life.
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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-_~ / "If you want to climb mountains, \ /^\
_ _ / don't practice on mole hills" -\____
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