Ah, the first day of school. The first time in 49 years I haven't been an active part of that. But part of me is there. I have nieces, close friends, and close family that are integrally involved in the new school year. Today I have some quotes on the importance of the sometimes mystical chemistry that brings forth amazing results within the halls of learning. These are for the encouragement and inspiration of teachers and learners alike. And if you embrace "life-long learning, " that means you!
"What was the duty of the teacher if not to inspire?"
Bharati Mukherjee
"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge."
Albert Einstein
"Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself."
Chinese proverb
"A school should not be a preparation for life. A school should be life."
Elbert Hubbard
"All acts performed in the world begin as imagination."
Barbara Grizzuti Harrison
"The best that the great teachers can do for us is to help us to discover what is already present in ourselves."
Irving Babbitt
On day one, "ground zero," classroom teachers are the last ones who will have even half a minute to read this blog. Children arrived earlier than required today. They entered their new rooms with understandable apprehension, perhaps unaware that the teachers are as nervous as they are. New beginnings, especially with such life-long consequences, are cause for first day jitters, but not of fear, but expectation. It will take days before the newness settles into routine, but that does not imply boring. If a teacher and student alike pour their whole being, heart and soul into 180 days, the end product is astonishing. Chronological growth of 1 year is nothing compared to the spiralling growth of the child's intellect and spirit, when lovingly nurtured. Teachers, diligently apply the pedagogical "Miracle-Gro" that you understand so well. Water, weed, stake, prune, and the harvest of your "kinder-garten" (not just the 5 year-olds, but ALL the children) will be abundant and rich. God bless you all today and all through the year!
2 comments:
Loved it!!!!!!!!Agree 100 percent!!!!
Very nice. Emy is SO ready to go to her first day of Kindergarten!! They are staggering K entry, she goes Tuesday, Thurs and Fri this week!
So excited, she could hardly go to sleep!!
180 days seems so long, but it will pass in the blink of an eye, I'm sure.
It's still hard to believe you won't be at SFL this year!! Thanks for the post.
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