My son shared a story about
his third grade teacher that brought tears to my eyes. Mrs. C., as he
explained, teaches because she thinks children are geniuses. Children are
creative, imaginative and filled with ideas. She wants to be present every day
to their wisdom. She wants to hear and to treasure their ideas
because they have the answers. She wants to go to her deathbed knowing she
witnessed children in their creative and imaginative prime, especially since that
creative capability lessens when children become teenagers and then adults.
I am not doing justice to his
simpler and more elegant explanation, but I believe I’ve captured the essence.
As the boy continued to describe his teacher’s worldview, I started to sniffle.
I couldn’t help it. Amused, but not surprised, he witnessed my futile struggle
to contain myself. Finally, the tears began to flow. I recognized love, plain and
simple, at the heart of his teacher’s career. She goes to work everyday
motivated by a deep, abiding love for children. She loves their minds! She sees
them as imminently capable. She unabashedly supports and believes in them.
What parent could
possibly ask for anything more? I am filled with gratitude. She has already left an
indelible mark on my son’s heart.
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