09/24/22 Weekend Grif.Net - New Teacher in the Building
b...@grif.net
A teacher shared with me: September 1st and school was starting in a few days. I was starting my 17th year teaching 3rd graders, that special year in school I loved as children mastered cursive writing, multiplication tables, maps, and music. In the next room was a young lady, newly graduated (and newly married), working on lesson plans and decorating bulletin boards. We did not have much time to chat, but as this was her a first-year teaching, I wanted to encourage her.
I told her about the ups and downs of teaching children, and that not every day would be an “A” day for anyone grading HER as a teacher. But each day she should remember that every little child had struggles and fears, dreams and goals, strong support or constant challenges at home, and that she should love each one unconditionally. At least she could make it an “A” day for THEM.
She smiled and told me, “I want to be like my favorite teacher who used to tell me ‘Failure is not an option for you.’”
The quizzical look on my face was apparent. “That’s a phrase I use with MY children in class every year!”
She lowered her eyes and said, “Yes. I remember that. You may not recognize me as an adult and with a married name, but I will never forget you as my teacher during your first year in a classroom 17 years ago. No matter what happened to me that year and every year to come in middle school, in high school, even having to take an extra year to get through college, and an unexpected baby, I knew I was going to be a teacher just like you.
Failure was NEVER an option for me.”
My eyes said it all. Evidently, she had believed me! What greater reward could a teacher ever have?
~~
Dr Bob Griffin
"Jesus Knows Me, This I Love!"