To my fellow teachers everywhere:
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
Theodore Roosevelt
American 26th US president (1901-09), 1858-1919
As proud public school teachers, you have placed yourself into the arena. You subject yourself to critique. You know that you pursue a worthy cause and you are willing to dare greatly in order to lead your students beyond what they thought was possible. You are motivated by more than high achievement and recognition. For you, it is about a life with purpose; simply, to live a life that counts. And so to the critics, to those with cold and timid souls, who would try to diminish your choice to be a teacher - let us all stand together, as one strong united voice, and let them know that our students are more than numbers or potential profit and that our work cannot be chartered away or virtualized.
Thank you for always being willing to ask why. To ask if there is a better way. To give voice to those who dare not speak. To inspire those who are lost. To be awake while others sleep. To celebrate. To hope. Thank you for all that you do and for all that you are.
