Bird Droppings April 24, 2025
“Peaceful evolution versus violent revolution,” what a powerful thought

I have read extensively over the past few years, putting together thoughts for my dissertation in my studies at Georgia Southern University.  One of those that passed through my hands these past few days, and actually a few minutes ago on my writing table, is The Quality School by Dr. William Glasser, M.D. It has been some time since I had looked through it, but by chance, it was among the ones I pulled out as I read this week.

As I went about my day yesterday. I had my usual flow of emails and texts from former students, some questions that they wanted me to answer, and some thoughts on photography. Others want to say hi. As I look ahead a week or two, as we wind down, many teachers have and or will have completed their lessons due to early end-of-course tests from the state, and then it will be wild. As in years past, some students will be bored, so they will come to my room to discuss snakes, salamanders, and frogs, or take pictures digitally, and work on their various projects and images on computers. Occasionally, someone is tired and will fall asleep and wrap up in one of my hand-woven blankets, thrown around in the back of the room.

I recall I was always amazed by my old, second-hand, beat-up, rough-looking futon, which used to be like a magnet to students and teachers alike, but it has gone the way of extinction. I had kids who wanted to buy it, saying it is the most comfortable sofa in the world. So that leads me to quality. How do we define it? As I read through Glasser’s book, I recalled one of my own credos. Number one on Bird’s list for schools is that students have to want to be there. If students do not want to be in school, you are starting off in a losing mode before you even get to try and teach.

“Students tell me that a good teacher is deeply interested in the students and in the material being taught. They also say that such a teacher frequently conducts class discussions and does not place themselves above them, and they are comfortable talking to them.” Dr. William Glasser

Something caught my attention as I read what students wrote in my yearbooks over the years. Several have been writing in each year’s book for each of the four years they were at LHS, and many are still good friends. Some teachers would argue that point, pointing to not building friendships with students.

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing, and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.” Henri Nouwen

As I read the various yearbook quotes, “Thank you for listening,” “Thank you for just being here,” and “Thank you for understanding me,” I started to think, “What is a friend, anyway?” Isn’t there a friend who listens without criticizing and tries to resolve each petty detail?

“The most I can do for my friend is simply be his friend.” Henry David Thoreau

Building on this idea of friendship and going back to Glasser, who uses the concept of choice theory in his idea of a quality school, which provides opportunity for choice from teachers and students. It is building choice into the program, so there is ownership of what is being learned.

“True friendship comes when silence between two people is comfortable.” Dave Tyson Gentry

It is difficult for me to sit quietly. Recently, I sent an email to one of my former assistant principals about how our minute of silent meditation went to 2.7 minutes and broke down costs and such. I was being sarcastic since I do enjoy my meditative state, probably more so than most do.

“One doesn’t know, till one is a bit at odds with the world, how much one’s friends who believe in one rather generously mean to one.” D.H. Lawrence

One of my reasons for picking up the book by Glasser was to examine similarities to the Foxfire approach taught at Piedmont College, on which I have developed in my dissertation. Foxfire is based on a democratic classroom promoted by John Dewey as early as 1918, a man considerably ahead of his time and even considered progressive today.

“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic cords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be by the better angels of our nature.” Abraham Lincoln

I was sitting watching the Trial of Billy Jack a few months back, listening to and watching how Billy Jack conquered his inner demons. He was focusing on the days of turmoil and tribulations that he had experienced. My wife always picks on me when I watch my hero, Billy Jack. Yesterday, a red-tailed hawk caught my attention as it flew alongside me as I was driving home, chasing a mouse. When I arrived at my house, a small storm was coming through. It seemed that clouds were swirling overhead, and as I looked out the window, sunshine was streaming in as well. I ran out and was thinking perhaps our first rainbow of the year would be across the sky, but not yesterday, and the clouds blocked the pink full moon as well.

“A true friend embosoms freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably.” William Penn

According to William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania and a staunch pacifist, a teacher is a friend. If we, as teachers, took this view of friendship, perhaps more would happen in education.

“Education is the process by which we discover that learning adds quality to our lives. Learning must be experienced.” Dr. William Glasser

Teaching is showing and giving quality to life.

“Caring for but never trying to own may be a further way to define friendship.” Dr. William Glasser

Towards the end of one of my favorite movies of all time, Bill Jack, as I am listening, a comment is made by the heroine Jean, “peaceful evolution versus violent revolution,” and I thought what a powerful and interesting idea. Can we spread friendship? Can we be better friends, higher-quality friends? Maybe we can create a better world if we put our minds to it. Yesterday, a bill was signed, and some feel money was wasted, but I think an effort is being made to educate better and provide capabilities for hungry and needy children. How can we ever say that is wasted money? Please keep all in harm’s way in your hearts and on your mind, and always give thanks, namaste.

My family and friends, I do not say this lightly,

Mitakuye Oyasin

(We are all related)

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