BRATTLEBORO — Respecting the pupil means teaching each pupil how to learn based on what she or he wants to learn. If the mission of each school is to produce ethically sound, productive, lifelong-learning members of society, then we as educators must engage, inspire, and allow them the opportunity to discover the passion that lies within themselves.
It has been said that one should not let schooling get in the way of one's education. Actually, schooling often means training; however, it also refers to experience. Experience comes from trying and failing over and over again.
In that process, one develops or gains in wisdom. Wisdom is the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. It is, above all, a process of discovery.
For me, it is imperative that I have a role model, someone who has or is exhibiting the qualities of perseverance, dedication, and the unwavering belief that possibilities and opportunities are endless.
Someone like Thomas Edison comes to mind.
As an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. When a reporter asked, “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?” Edison replied, “I didn't fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.”
As a teacher, it is still my desire to impress upon each student that this life is a worthwhile adventure and that they are committed to however many steps it takes for them to spread their light into the world.