The Gift
Yesterday I received a commemorative gift for completing 25 years as an educator. I am grateful and appreciative of the recognition and the very nice gift. The gift is a beautiful glass paperweight with a quote etched on the inside.
The irony
Because my brain always thinks of odd connections, I had to chuckle at the irony of the gift choice. Two reasons for the irony, I have been in a windowless classroom for most of my career. And I have never been closer to running a completely paperless class. I wondered if any students or even newer teachers would have any idea what a paperweight is.
I’m the relic too, sort of.
Paperweights are fast becoming a relic of a foregone time. Recalling that time gave me a moment of pause. I reflected on the teacher I was when I first walked into that classroom 25 years ago. That person is as much a relic of the past as the paperweight. The methods, priorities, and choices have changed dramatically. Even if technology and society had not moved at such breakneck speed since then, I would hope that teacher would still be a relic. I have learned so much. The craft that I employ and the tools that I use have steadily improved. My communication with parents, relationships with students, and life balance have all changed for the better.
Finding your inner Values
But like that glass paperweight, what’s on the inside has remained timeless. Because what’s on the inside of that glass paperweight is a quote by Gandhi that says, “Be the change you’d like to see in the world.” Never more in my life and career have I felt that statement at the core of who I am.
Though my classroom practices and physical appearance have changed over 25 years, that idea has remained etched on the inside. A few others have joined it there. Ideas that guide the experience I strive to create. Experiences that bless and encourage students and that strengthen our future society. Environments and experiences that give the next generation hope.
please don’t just hold stuff down
I wish we all could be the change we’d like to see in the world. Sadly, some take the end of their career more like a paperweight. They “hold down” the job until retirement. I will not be content passively holding down the job. Holding down the classroom. Holding down the noise. Holding down the disruptions.
My manifesto
I can look at 25 years gone and look forward to what lies ahead. I don’t know what the next five to 10 years holds for me. But I do know students will remember those future years. Colleagues will feel the impact. Parents will notice the influence.
The next years will be years that make a difference not only in the lives of the individual students but in the collective that we call education. This system will be different because of the impact I choose to make. Not like a passive paperweight but a very active participant. One who draws on my core values and uses that strength as a voice, agent, and lever for change. You’ll see it in who I am. You’ll hear it in what I say, and you’ll see it in every place that I go. How about you?
your turn
We all have this choice whether we are entering year six or year twenty-six. What do you choose to make out of it? Who will you serve? How will they know you did more than “hold it down” for them? Today we also celebrated those who are retiring. One teacher really stood out to me. I only interacted with her a few times a year but she “oozed” positivity and true LOVE for kids. May we all be like that. Thank you Chris for your example.