SCHOOL'S OUT FOR THE SUMMER!

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

The school year is at an end here in the south, and close to finishing up north as well. As our children pack away their notebooks and school uniforms for the summer in favor of bathing suits and flip flops, let’s take time to remember the gifts their teachers have given to them throughout the year. Teaching isn’t just imparting facts and figures as some people think. Teaching is the gentle molding of a mind and soul, the passing on of knowledge, yes, but of so much more! It’s caring for each child’s physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual growth and development  for 10 month of that child’s life. (And most of the teachers I know never stop caring or thinking of those children even after they’ve moved on to the next grade and beyond.) Any child I’ve ever taught knows that he or she will ALWAYS be my “little chicken” and that I’m still here for them (and many have grown children of their own by now!)

Take a moment to reflect on just what a teacher does, as written in a letter from Abraham Lincoln to his son’s teacher.

He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, all men are not true.
But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero;
that for every selfish Politician, there is a dedicated leader...
Teach him for every enemy there is a friend,
Steer him away from envy, if you can,  teach him the secret of
quiet laughter.
Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest to lick...   Teach him, if you can, the wonder of books...
But also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky,
bees in the sun, and the flowers on a green hillside.
In the school teach him it is far honorable to fail than to cheat...
Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him
they are wrong...
Teach him to be gentle with gentle people, and tough with the tough.
Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd
when everyone is getting on the band wagon...
Teach him to listen to all men... but teach him also to filter
all he hears on a screen of truth, and take only the good
that comes through.
Teach him if you can , how to laugh when he is sad...
Teach him there is no shame in tears, Teach him to scoff at cynics
and to beware of too much sweetness...
Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to the highest bidders
but never to put a price-tag on his heart and soul.
Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob and to stand and fight
if he thinks he's right.
Treat him gently, but do not cuddle him, because only the test
of fire makes fine steel.
Let him have the courage to be impatient...
let him have the patience to be brave.
Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself,
because then he will have sublime faith in mankind.
This is a big order, but see what you can do...  
He is such a fine fellow, my son!