"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream
fulfilled is a tree of life."
Proverbs 13:12 (NLT)
Most people who work in
schools are a bundle nerves the night before students return.
"Do I have my room
together?"
"Is my computer hooked
up properly?"
"Will the buses arrive
on time?"
These are just a few of the
questions bouncing around the heads of eager principals, faculty and staff. All
of these frantic thoughts point to logistical concerns, but there are deeper
questions that can steal sleep.
***
In the classic play 'Les
Miserables,' one of the most piercing songs is 'I Dreamed a Dream.' The
character Fantine, is reflecting on a situation that finds her in deep despair.
She remembers better days and almost cries when she sings the concluding lyric
- "life has killed the dream I dreamed."
I believe dreams are the
most potent attack against urban violence, societal mayhem and generational
poverty. Langston Hughes based much of his poetry on dreams. Dr. King used the
theme of dreams to usher in the zenith of the greatest social movement of the
20th century. One of the greatest hip-hop songs begins - "It was all a
dream." Dreams are life.
They are especially
important to the children who will line our halls and fill our seats this
school year. Students grow up dreamers. Then, schooling happens. High-stakes
tests, benchmarks, report-cards and the pressure of being the right kind of
data coalesce to sometimes choke hope out of the voices of our most school
dependent children. Too many students aren't dreaming any more.
***
Teachers are not immune to this
phenomena. Years of stagnant scores, emotional teacher-student exchanges and
public teacher shaming can really turn the heart of a teacher. Then come
questions of a different kind.
"Will it work this time?"
"Am I able to turn these scores around?"
"What if I commit myself to the work and the scores don't move?"
Although these questions can weigh heavily on the collective consciousness of teachers and administrators, I believe this year can be different. Teachers and administrators have the unique opportunity to model the words and work that will make a difference in teaching and learning so that students can dream again. It all starts with the belief in work. Great results are wrapped in hard work. The work matures when we collaborate. All of us is better than one of us. Finally, dreams happen when there is a shared vision between teachers, administrators, students and families. When we know where we are going and what it's going to look like, we can hope again.
So, what is your work strategy for this year? How are you going to collaborate within your own educational community? What is the shared vision for which you and your students are aiming?
What dreams do you have for your students?
"Will it work this time?"
"Am I able to turn these scores around?"
"What if I commit myself to the work and the scores don't move?"
Although these questions can weigh heavily on the collective consciousness of teachers and administrators, I believe this year can be different. Teachers and administrators have the unique opportunity to model the words and work that will make a difference in teaching and learning so that students can dream again. It all starts with the belief in work. Great results are wrapped in hard work. The work matures when we collaborate. All of us is better than one of us. Finally, dreams happen when there is a shared vision between teachers, administrators, students and families. When we know where we are going and what it's going to look like, we can hope again.
So, what is your work strategy for this year? How are you going to collaborate within your own educational community? What is the shared vision for which you and your students are aiming?
What dreams do you have for your students?
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