Bird Droppings March 7, 2025
Quietly listening to Bob Dylan and pondering the word inspiration.

My mind wandered back fifteen years or more to a county-wide teacher kick-off meeting. I thought back to another time, 2020, when many teachers were still monitoring lessons from computers, not in the classroom. Many communities banned gatherings of fifty or more. With my wife in health care, I heard the medical side, and being an old fart, I would rather stay home and be safe. Back to my story, traditionally, the county would have a packaged inspirational meeting and welcome-back for the new school year, hosted by an outside speaker. The county would pay big bucks to an inspirational speaker. Paid to come in and inspire us as teachers, I found out quite a bit. It could be a comedian or professional speaker, and it seemed the county would try a new approach every year. Not too long after this one, the superintendent, with austerity cuts, cut this program out first, which most teachers did not have an issue with.

Although I would have paid to hear and would enjoy going to hear Nelson Mandela or Bishop Tutu, maybe Jimmy Carter, but so far, no such luck. In the past, before the county cut the startup program, we would carpool to the high school gym near the county office and sit in the bleachers, listening to pep talks and such, and most teachers would leave wishing they had called in sick. I once considered asking for a substitute, but our secretary did not think the county would cover one.

A recent speaker to a current high school senior class reminded me of that meeting nearly fifteen years back. A young black college professor stood before us. He made his point quite powerfully. In the minutes before the program started, no one approached him as he boogied through the crowd. The guest speaker for our seniors also made this point about first impressions. So, I start today with a quote from a young college professor.

“You can teach anyone anything once you get their ATTENTION.” Dr. Adolph Brown, III

Before the annual teacher’s inspirational gathering in the county, this same professor was walking through the crowd, clad in hip-hop attire: baggy pants and shirt, and a baseball cap with a do-rag. He could have been from any street corner in Atlanta or Monroe, where the school is located; he was just a young black man. As they announced, Dr. Brown, a very distinguished man in a business suit, rose and headed toward the podium. Then the hip-hop fellow moved toward the mike and took charge, announcing he is Dr. Adolph Brown III from Hampton College, professor of psychology and education. He is a worldwide consultant and motivational speaker.

“The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called ‘truth.’” Dan Rather

We, the teachers, sat listening to this young professor talk about faith, trust, and how to get students’ attention.

“In teaching, you cannot see the fruit of a day’s work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years.” Jacques Barzun

New teachers come in wanting to make immediate changes in students’ lives, and it does happen, but the real changes often come years later. Recently, a former history teacher joined our high school group site, and many of our members shared memories of this great teacher’s efforts both in the classroom and as a coach. Mr. Ross Kershey was one of the winningest basketball and track coaches in Pa. and a truly great teacher in the classroom, inspiring students to learn. It has been over fifty years since I was in his class, yet I still consider him one of the best teachers I ever had. Over the years, I have sat at the feet of some great teachers in college classes and industrial seminars, and as a professional management training coordinator.

“Most teachers have little control over school policy or curriculum or choice of texts or special placement of students, but most have a great deal of autonomy inside the classroom. To a degree shared by only a few other occupations, such as police work, public education rests precariously on the skill and virtue of the people at the bottom of the institutional pyramid.” Tracy Kidder

A former student came by to visit me a few years back. He had walked across the stage nearly eighteen years ago to accept a special education diploma, then officially finished high school, received his general education diploma, and went on to college. It was a good feeling to be sitting there talking with a student who kept at it and succeeded even though all the odds were stacked against him.

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” William Arthur Ward

This is what teaching is about; it is an inspiration, and I wish all teachers could have heard those comments we heard at our Walton County teachers meeting that year, when Dr. Brown offered the key component in teaching: it is our example. It is setting an example for students. I have heard that many times, and somehow it does not sink in with most teachers. So, as we head towards the end of a school year, the summer, and the next few weeks of End of Course Tests at our school, please keep all in harm’s way on your mind and in your hearts, and always give thanks, namaste.

My family and friends, I do not say this lightly,
Mitakuye Oyasin
(We are all related)
docbird