Bird Droppings June 28, 2026

Quietly listening to Hot Tuna and pondering the word inspiration.

Always a good feeling to be home after vacation. We had a fantastic week with our son and our grandkiddos. We never slowed down, and the week flew by. I cooked breakfast, my favorite meal, seven mornings, and made maybe a million pancakes. We went to the beach, the recreation pool, the condo pool, and any pool we could find. We went to the Bonto Springs Wonder Gardens, local restaurants, grilled out, and had sleepovers. I laid my head down last night and even got up at 5:00 AM to see the sunrise, yet I still had nine hours of sleep. Pat went out for a walk with her friend, came back, and crashed. So many memories to cherish. One that stood out was that while out in the Gulf of Mexico, my grandkids found hermit crabs, some in tiny shells. My six-year-old grandson, while hesitant to pick one up, named everyone. There was Kroger, Publix, Hermie, and I was laughing so hard, not sure of the rest.

However, I am always thinking about education in the back of my mind. Being in some of the most beautiful parts of the country, at least for me, in Ding Darling National Park, I would get excited by something in front of me and listen to the responses of 6, 12, 15, 38, and 66-year-olds. My take was always significantly different, granted I enjoy lizards, snakes, and puppy dog tails, so to speak. If I saw a certain bird, I would watch and mention it, with varying levels of attention: not even look, take a glance, be attentive, and/or get out the Merlin app to verify the call being heard. So, as I am driving home, something from a graduate class I am taking struck me. The Funds of Knowledge. Moll, Amanti, Neff, and González refined the definition to mean historically accumulated and culturally developed bodies of knowledge and skills essential for household or individual functioning and well-being. All the stuff we learn from our families and community so that we can function as human beings.

I was walking across a bridge with my six-year-old grandson, and he noticed a small school of fish. I knew immediately they were needlefish, a common baitfish in Florida, and had seen them many times over the past seventy-seven years. Henry had never seen them before and declared they were baby swordfish. He knew swordfish from school, from stories he had seen, and, of course, from Florida, on signs and billboards, images of swordfish being caught and so forth. He was working with the knowledge he had seen or acquired in his six years. Education seems to pop up continually in my writings. I found this idea fascinating. Why are more teachers not considering this, especially in our extremely diverse world?

Over twenty years ago, at a county-wide teacher kick-off meeting, it was traditionally a packaged inspirational meeting and welcome before state and federal budget cuts. This was the startup for the new school year led by a brought-in speaker. They would pay big dollars for someone to come in and inspire us as teachers, whether a comedian or professional speaker, and it seems they try a new approach each year. I would much rather enjoy hearing about Nelson Mandela or Bishop Tutu, maybe even Jimmy Carter, but so far, no such luck. In the past, before budget austerity cut the county startup program, we would carpool over to the high school gym nearest our county office and sit in the bleachers listening to pep talks and such; 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 the cost of a sub.

A young black man dressed in hip-hop clothing stood before us. He made his point, and no one person approached him as he boogied through the crowd before the meeting. 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 professor walked about the crowd clad in hip-hop attire, baggy pants, a 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. A distinguished man in a business suit rises and heads towards the podium. Then the hip-hop fellow moves toward the mike, takes charge, and announces 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, teachers, sat listening to this young professor talk about faith, trust, and getting 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 want to change students’ lives immediately, and they do, but the real differences often take years to emerge. Recently, a former history teacher joined our high school group site, and many of our members were offering 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 Pennsylvania and a great teacher in the classroom, inspiring students to learn. It has been over forty-five years since I was in his class, yet I still consider him one of the best teachers I’ve ever had. Over the years, I have sat at the feet of some great teachers in college classes and industrial seminars. I did my job 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 people’s skill and virtue 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. He then officially graduated from high school, earned his GED, 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 the 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 sets an example for students. I have heard that many times before; it does not sink in with most teachers. So, as we head towards the start of a new school year and the summertime is coming to an end, we will be back to End-of-Course tests, graduation tests, tests of tests, and more tests. Please keep all in harm’s way on your minds 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