But You Don't Become Great By Trying To Be Great. You Become Great By Wanting To Do Something, And Then

You can’t stay the same. If you’re a musician and a singer, you have to change, that’s the way it works.

Van Morrison

Sometimes the simplest things bring us the greatest happiness.

Love this place!

I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart.

Anne Frank (via thelifeguardlibrarian)

Joy can be real only if people look upon their life as a service, and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness.

Leo Tolstoy

For there is no friend like a sister in calm or stormy weather; To cheer one on the tedious way, to fetch one if one goes astray, to lift one if one totters down, to strengthen whilst one stands.

- Christina Rossetti

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)

Life, like pictures, can have unexpected results. It's how you see it that matters.

Happy Friday!

I remember memorizing things I've never needed since. Now I get to make others do the same.