InSpiritry

For many of us, this week signals the start of a new school year.  Ahhh, summer is over, whether we are students, teachers, administrators, librarians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, parents or just commuters who pass through school zones.

For my part these many years later, I can still recall the smell of new books and old classrooms and almost hear the shrill exultation of that first period bell! I certainly can remember the nervousness and delight of trying new things (phonics, 3 digit numbers, cursive writing, volley ball, geometry proofs, Old English, Chemistry experiments, frog dissection…).

For those of you involved in education, I celebrate your commitment to the sacred task of empowering young hearts and minds. There are so many of you who do so much. One capable student I know shares her computer with a classmate whose family can’t afford one. Another student speaks out about racial, gender and sexual orientation issues in the school newspaper. A teacher friend with many bilingual students has visited every single household before school started–so no one would feel afraid. My mother at nearly eighty is a volunteer grandmother at her local elementary where she does what grandmothers do! My sister is a primary school librarian who has contacted authors to partner with her small, rural school district. A local administrator has invited business people to mentor his single parent students. Kudos to each and every one!

Our schools, especially our public schools, are our sacred trust. Nothing is more essential to government by the people than people who know enough to govern. And nothing has enabled the personal economic blessings we enjoy more than our education. But most importantly, the Greater Good can only be achieved if all of us–all of us in every country, state and town –have the opportunity to be empowered by knowledge.

So what can you do? Lots!

• If you are a student, keep your enthusiasm. Celebrate the chance to learn and have the courage to try new things. We are waiting for you to change the world!
• If you are an educator, reach out to the rest of us. You have our profound gratitude. We want to support your efforts if you will show us how!
• Help fund education efforts around the world; there are millions of kids wishing they had a chance to learn. Check out the web or my web links page for groups at work on this.
• Fund education in your own country by supporting tax efforts (our dues for living in such an amazing nation) that go to reinvesting in educational facilities and teacher salaries.
• Offer your help at a local school. Whatever your skills, experience, interest or time constraints, you are invaluable to the children in your community.
• Support political candidates that make education a priority. It’s not just about us! Kids matter most!

This week as we begin another school year, let’s all share a sense of new beginning. Whatever happened last year is over. Whatever we planned for the summer did or did not get done. But now we have a new chance to start over! All of us in our work and personal lives can meet a new friend, try a new outlook, learn a new skill, experience a new place, be a new person. We can all see our selves as students who benefit from the sharing of ideas, that most miraculous thing that happens between two people.

Many things can wait. Children cannot. Today their bones are being formed, their blood is being made, their senses are being developed. To them we cannot say “tomorrow.” Their name is today. 

Gabriela Mistral (Chilean teacher 1899 - 1957)

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This entry was posted on Monday, August 27th, 2007 at 9:15 am and is filed under Workplace, InSpiration, Family, Education, Children. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.