Friday Flush

Thank you, Ms. Rufo, for today’s quote.  I think it is a great concept to remember this time of year, and I think there are several ways this could apply to us. 

First, I love the imagery of what we do.  We teach kids.  Kids that are not developed, and they don’t even look like what they will be in some years.  They are small, have a hard shell to protect themselves, and they have amazing potential.  They just need to stay in one place rooted in the promise that one day they will be something quite different.  We as teachers have to help students see the potential down the road…we have to help them stay rooted in who they are and what they know….we need to give them the care they need to continue to grow. 

I think we can also see this imagery in our own lives.  Sometimes it is hard to stand our ground and stay in one place.  Man, it sure would be easier to blow around with the wind, then to stand against it.  But, you need to be able to do that, so you can grow.  I am sure we can all find times in our life when we had the open to “blow around with the wind,” but we chose to stand our position instead.  I bet we developed a stronger character trait through that process.  I bet you are better today because of it.  If you never got rooted or stood for anything, you would rot.  Nuts don’t grow a little and stop when they aren’t planted….they just rot eventually.  They only way to grow is to stand firm. 

It is May.  In education that seems like a battlecry or mantra we should all know.  It seems like the answer to every issue we have.  Kids are crazy, well its May.  No one is focused, well its May.  My team is being snippy, well its May.  I lost my stapler, well its May.  May to me shows us that we are still nuts at times.  Kids, parents, teachers, and administrators all included.  Remember that patience as you put up with all us nuts.  We need it.

Thank you for your vision and your leadership!  Happy Friday!