Today, I had an early bus meeting, then I drove to the lake to play a round of golf and open up the camper. The water isn't turned on yet, but everything else is ready to go.
February 2009
Principal’s Message
Long ago,
in my first year of teaching, I went to a teachers’ convention in Regina and
heard a speaker who worked with troubled teens tell the same message given in a
popular 70’s tune recorded by Jackie Deshannon – what the world needs now is
love. He appealed to teachers to first
and foremost love children. In some
cases, school is the place where children experience the most love. Love is something we talk about and sing
about, but at times seems to be in such short supply. Since our virtue of the month is Love and
Teacher Appreciation Week is in February, mentioning love and teachers together
is quite appropriate.
What does
love look like in schools? Love is
patient. I remember my favourite teacher
who patiently took me through senior math and algebra with a stub of chalk that
never seemed to wear out. She would not
move on until we understood. I also
remember dropping out of another class because the teacher grew frustrated with
me because I could not understand.
Love is kind. I read an article recently about a child who
heard words of encouragement from her teacher when she was in an early
grade. The words didn’t seem significant
to the teacher at that time, but they were uttered with sincerity. Years later the teacher viewed the child’s
scrapbook of achievement and on one very important page, the encouraging words
were recorded the day they were spoken.
You just never know.
Love is not
rude. I try to follow the rule of praise
in public and correct in private. Taking
a child aside for correction is always more effective than making an example of
a child in front of his or her peers.
Praise in public is inspiring.
Love is not easily angered. When I was a young teacher, there were times
when I acted in anger and I scared myself.
You do not think clearly when you are angry.
Love does not keep a record of
wrongs. Teachers have to exercise a
great measure of forgiveness. In my
first year of teaching, I had a group of students who drove me crazy. I would wake in the middle of the night
thinking of ways to get even. Revenge
did not become me. I had to forgive, set
reasonable expectations, faithfully enforce expectations, consistently apply
consequences, and move on.
Love is much more, but I will mention
only one more characteristic. Love
always hopes for the best. Children
pretty much live up to our expectations of them. I am forever impressed with the way children
respond to the loving guidance of good teachers. As a child, I was fortunate enough to have
teachers who had hope for me beyond the hope I had for myself. They encouraged me to be more than I planned
on being.
Yes, teaching takes a lot of love
– the kind of love that brings out the best in children. I am here to testify that I have seen love in
action among the teachers at Prairie
View School. There are times when teachers make mistakes
and disappoint. As principal, I usually
hear about it. However, I also get into
every classroom to see loving teachers who love children and love their
profession. Just today, I received a
small greeting card from a former student who thanked me for being a great
principal and teacher. I will always
treasure the letter. Please take the
time to thank a teacher this month and encourage them to abound in love.
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