Bird Droppings August 8, 2011
Trying to understand

As I went to school and such today it seemed a part of me was left home. I generally start each morning with writing, this has been a very relaxing part of my day and as I got up to start I was sort of out of sync this morning congested from the humidity perhaps. Now sitting in my room and starting the day a little bit later than I normally due perhaps by the pondering on my last weekend before school starts back of events and happenings.
Pondering further one day for a research project I will investigate new teachers. The first semester they are interesting as they come in excited and exuberant. Some keep it going and continue while others burn out all too quickly. I noticed as I came in new teachers were beating me in and I am usually one of the first here each day. It has been good seeing old friends and making new ones the past few days of a new school year. It seems each day students past and future show up at the door to say hello or be shown my crazy room.

“If we would build on a sure foundation in friendship, we must love friends for their sake rather than for our own.” Charlotte Bronte

Nearly eight years ago as we went through that first morning, some teacher’s call it the annual PEP rally put on by the county office, of course with budget cuts it is gone not that teachers mind, they showed a film FISH about being excited and having fun at what you do. It was about involving people and choosing your own attitude. I have been asked many times by students why do I teach and always I respond because it is fun I enjoy it.

“Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend — or a meaningful day.” Dalai Lama

I have a good friend who has shown the same movie to a similar crowd who had a hard time understanding then and they still have a hard time understanding today. Why not alter it up a bit show a different movie. I was once asked him why do you teach. He wasn’t sure was his answer. We plaster all over school vision statements and creeds making lifelong learners but we really never check to see if this is true. Many former students came by today already before school and it was interesting to note what questions were asked and what stories remembered.

“A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

As I watched people pass by in the hallway each person unique many smiling, some sad, others laughing, maybe even joking about what I may never know. Why I was here made sense now, perhaps we can make a difference no matter how small.

“Everybody needs one essential friend.” Dr. William Glaser

An interesting thought as I sit and think we all need someone somewhere to bounce ideas off and to be able to be truthful with and to discuss openly ideas and thoughts. I am reading a book written about students views of teachers and education and it opens with a student written, advertising to hire a teacher. That stuck with me, another good one might be an ad for a friend, but what would we write.

“Friendship needs no words…” Dag Hammarskjöld

As I saw that quote the reality of friendship hit, there are no definitions really that define friendship adequately. It is difficult for friendship for in defining a friend it also implies how we go through life and seek our way in this journey and those are crucial. A quick note on a bright hot humid Georgia morning so please keep all in harm’s way on your mind and in your hearts.
namaste
bird