Spring Won't Let Me Stay In This House Any Longer! I Must Get Out And Breathe The Air Deeply Again.

Where do I begin? I spent the last thirty minutes listening to a group of arrogant and condescending non educators disrespect my colleagues and profession. I listened to a group of disingenuous people whose own self-interests guide their policies rather than the interests of children. I listened to a cabal of people who sit on national education committees that will have a profound impact on classroom teaching practices. And I heard nothing of value. "I'm thinking about the current health care debate," I said. "And I am wondering if I will be asked to sit on a national committee charged with the task of creating a core curriculum of medical procedures to be used in hospital emergency rooms." The strange little man cocks his head and, suddenly, the fly on the wall has everyone's attention. "I realize that most people would think I am unqualified to sit on such a committee because I am not a doctor, I have never worked in an emergency room, and I have never treated a single patient. So what? Today I have listened to people who are not teachers, have never worked in a classroom, and have never taught a single student tell me how to teach."

2009 National Teacher of the Year Anthony Mullen, describing his experience at a national conference on the future of teaching in his blog post, “Teachers Should Be Seen and Not Heard.” This should be read. (via politicalprof)

If you are not ready today, you will be even less so tomorrow.

-Ovid

What we all wish Mondays were like.

A shadow is unique to each person and yet indistinguishable from another. Likewise, everyone is different, but we are all still human.

Memories don't need years to develop. They are like photographs - caught in an instant and stored for a lifetime.

It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.

Henry David Thoreau

Sometimes it's not you who choose your friends, but rather you are chosen.

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.

Herm Albright

Even the last leaf on the tree isn't really alone. The branches and the wind will still want to play, and when the leaf gets tired and decides to drift down to earth, the softest pillow of dirt will be patiently waiting for it. After a rest, the bugs and fungi will come for a visit, and the leaf will learn to care for the roots. From then on, they will be bound to each other, until the day when another leaf is born.

Determination, energy, and courage appear spontaneously when we care deeply about something. We take risks that are unimaginable in any other context.

Margaret J. Wheatley