great post, as usual.

- Leadership is looking younger and younger each year. There is nothing wrong with that, but there is a problem when “experience” is no longer validated by some young leaders. One cannot compare 19 years of teaching and supervising experience versus a “minute” in a school building. After seven years of experience as a teacher, I still cannot say that I am God’s gift to education. Don’t get me wrong, I am good at what I do. I learn from everyone around me, including my kids. A true leader needs to know when to speak up and when to pull back for others to speak.
- Constant talking at the kids has become the norm now. The children are expected to sit since 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. The pressure to do well in standardized exams has become the “new curriculum.” Children need to run, breathe, draw, play, and interact with one another. The rigidness in school causes for our kids to be disengaged. After all, it is very easy for people to place label upon our kids because they can’t sit still or they don’t understand the jargon being thrown at them. You might as well put a label on me because I cannot sit still.
-Relationships between students and teachers are critical. I still remember those teachers whom had a significant impact on me. I have put into practice their “magic touch” and created my own style.
-”Hanging up the gloves” should take place when “we” no longer have the desire nor the stamina to fight. When one gets to that level of apathy and indifference, then please leave the profession.

As always, you provoke a reaction from deep within.
Thank you, Mr. V.

Love the pic. Now that yer in that famous school, you got it made.