Dear Reader:
I remember hearing today’s title post phrase at a teacher conference long ago…I must have been pretty young because I was still taking notes then. 🙂
And I remember thinking… even while writing the phrase in my notebook..’Shouldn’t it read… There is nothing more beautiful than a mind changing?‘…since it was applied within the context of turning students on to learning.
Seeing this phrase again…I now know how little I still didn’t know back then…it’s not the mind that must be won over in life to see a difference in someone else’s life…but the heart.
The old adage…“Students don’t care how much you know… until they know how much you care” is the cornerstone to learning.
When I think back on the students who did get turned on to learning, especially history in my class…it all came about because of the relationship between me and that class of students… teaching each of them how to reach each other…accepting each others’ weaknesses and strengths.
When teachers remember fondly that moment when the light bulb came on for a student…it is as if he/she landed on the summit of Mt. Everest…the moment is filled with emotions overflowing from one’s heart.
We never forget that student’s name or that expression of delight in learning a new concept.
Please forgive me for having a retired history teacher’s moment of reflection…but when I witness, like all of you, the chaos and finger-pointing going on in our country sadly today…it is obvious that one contributing cause comes from lack of basic understanding of the constitution and how our government should work.
I can’t help but think that the lack of time given for social studies in the public school curriculum has had negative long-term effects on our students, now adults, with little “civics” or “government” background.
Over my three decades plus of teaching…I saw required history/government/economic courses in social studies dwindle and middle school “civics” disappear. When “accountability” came into the picture… social studies fell to the bottom of the curriculum hierarchy and each year time was taken from it to give to another more “important’ subject.
It becomes even more evident when you hear voters voting straight tickets…because it’s easier or they haven’t done their homework learning what each candidate stands for…many voters don’t even recognize the names of the people they voted for…until they get in trouble and appear in the media. Pretty sad state of affairs.
We, the people are the government...we must never forget that…and if we want change then we better change…for the better. If we see a lack of values or integrity on Capitol Hill…then it is up to us choose people who best represent our core values too.
This old retired teacher is begging you to go back and do your homework…learn what a democracy should be and how important it is to put candidates in office who want to help all people who make up our country …the candidates who put country before self, greed, and power.
My hope for our country is…the same thing I wanted for my classes…for the students to learn to work together…accept each other’s strength and weaknesses…united in their desire to learn.
Then one day…we can all look back to that turning point in our history when we united together to make our country more beautiful…and it happened because it was our hearts that changed.
So until tomorrow….
President Jimmy Carter once prophesied about an “invisible threat“—“A state where national unity is less valued than identity politics, greed, and selfishness—that threatens to topple our dearest values.”
“Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh
*I wonder if we can build heart-stretching machines and have one in the House and one located in the Senate.. every representative must go through the machine before entering…maybe that would work? 🙂
On these chilly, rainy evenings there is nothing like a roaring fire…to me it is right up there with watching the ocean or looking out over the mountains…you just feel the warmth and spirit of love and gratitude for our Creator.
ichaseferalcats
John Turner
Legally Ohm
Becky Dingle
Just 💕💕💕💕. My Robbins loved your classes!!! Thank you. Be SAFE
Pat McTeer Jackson
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And oh how I loved that boy of yours…what wonderful memories. One knows she is getting old when she looks back on the “good old days” but those teaching years really were the good old days…having students with glints in their eyes… filled with humor…just having fun learning.
Amen…to all you said…in the book that Tim Scott and Trey Gowdy wrote called United…they both stress having people in your life that are different than you…and believe differently …but then you find a common ground to build a relationship on for the good of the country. According to what was said in the book Tim was good friends with the pastor of Emmanuel Church in Charleston and he called him contiuously until he got the call that he was dead…Trey then shared that Tim had gotten tickets for the pastor to attend Obama’s inauguration and even though one was a Democrat and the other a Republican…they had a common love for their country. You would enjoy the book because it is all about building relationships across party lines to wirk together. Tim even shared the names he is called by people of color…but Trey shared that in one instance Tim said “we are going to oray for them”…like you I think many of us want a kinder world…
Miss you…will drop by and social distance…tried to get a vaccine but we have to wait 90 days since we tested positive…still can’t figure out where we got it…wear masks everywhere and we were by ourselves during the holidays except when Blake and Emily came…we have a friend who told us he couldn’t believe we had it because he didn’t fet it and he plays golf 3 or 4 times a week..oh well it is what it is…love and miss you.
I did not know about that 90 day time period ….what a bummer…just so glad yall were both one of the lucky ones not to have respiratory problems with the virus…. that seems to be the dividing line on who gets through with minimal discomfort and who has severe respiratory life-threatening reactions to the virus. I am just sorry y’all both came down with it…glad you had each other though.
I do think the first steps towards unity is opening our hearts to each other and looking for the core values we share more in common over the politics of addressing them….looking out for everyone in this country we love so much.
Getting my second vaccination a week from this Tuesday…and will feel so much better after getting it ….I know it isn’t necessarily the “end-all” – probably just the beginning..but at least I will have the antibodies in me to work against the virus if I get it. A deep sigh of relief. Love ya girl and hope things continue to look brighter and brighter for you and Fred.
I rarely comment but I do so enjoy your posts!
Yes, we need a heart stretcher!
Trey Gowdy closed out his hour last night reminding us we have HOPE.
Faith, Hope, and Love!
That’s right…as long as hope survives so does the world we live in. Keep hope alive that our children see our country as our cornerstones of freedom remind us….We are all immigrants in this great country…actually zebras by now…and underneath the skin we are all children of God…God and country for one and all who share our core values of honesty, compassion, truth, and love. Our lives are intertwined with all whom we encounter on this short visit to earth….let us help each along the way.
Good to hear from you Marcia! 🙂