tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566514794509319934.post4954824315036628614..comments2023-11-05T03:23:25.380-08:00Comments on Heart of Education: Variables NOT ExcusesTom Hierckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02338018066146730244noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566514794509319934.post-11091930503565477192012-09-17T16:38:14.046-07:002012-09-17T16:38:14.046-07:00Thanks Michelle. This reminds me of the Chinese pr...Thanks Michelle. This reminds me of the Chinese proverb "The one who plants the tree rarely gets to enjoy its' shade." This is so true for us in education. We may not always see the end growth but we should always be committed to the possibility of the growth.Tom Hierckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02338018066146730244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566514794509319934.post-43694860671168701552012-09-16T21:34:57.449-07:002012-09-16T21:34:57.449-07:00Great article and response. I think the definitio...Great article and response. I think the definition or standard for success is what tricks us sometimes. I know I can teach. I know I love teaching kids. I know my subject area. I know the students who walk in my room will grow. Sometimes the growth or success most needed may not be academic in nature. It may look like self awareness, a kid who just realized he can feel and who has learned to voice what he is feeling. The academic growth will be there, and if the student continues to be in a good learning environment with great teachers, and his personal life is not too overwhelming, then I suppose he will be what we call successful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566514794509319934.post-87260675150750103962012-09-15T13:11:02.271-07:002012-09-15T13:11:02.271-07:00Wow Gerry! Awesome comments. You have made this po...Wow Gerry! Awesome comments. You have made this post better with your feedback. Thanks for taking the time.Tom Hierckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02338018066146730244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566514794509319934.post-77279708204708955322012-09-15T08:49:28.501-07:002012-09-15T08:49:28.501-07:00Nice post, Tom, I couldn't agree more! In a w...Nice post, Tom, I couldn't agree more! In a world filled with variables, if there is a choice between things one might worry about, it's far better to choose the ones we can control than the ones we can't.<br /><br />My mechanic never sees a car that is in perfect, well-maintained condition; usually those vehicles have very little need of his skills. What he gets are cars that haven't been taken care of, what are low on oil, etc. In those cases, his skills, knowledge, and passion for his work bring them back to life. People who own those cars rely on him and admire what he does; the people who own the new cars don't know he's alive.<br /><br />It's the same with kids; if they already knew everything, were surrounded by loving communities, and had all that they needed ... they wouldn't need us.<br /><br /><br />"If kids come to us from strong, healthy functioning families, it makes our job easier. If they do not come to us from strong, healthy, functioning families, it makes our job more important.”<br /> -Barbara Coloroso<br /><br />Nobody is arguing that these other variables aren't important - but the research is pretty conclusive that, all else being equal, kids with thoughtful, intentional teachers, carefully crafted and managed learning experiences, in supportive school environments will do better than those who are without those things. <br /><br />The calling of the teacher, just like my mechanic, is to work with the material that comes to us and use our knowledge, skills and passion to breathe as much life into our task as we can.<br /><br />"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being." <br /> -Johann W. von Goethe<br /><br />Gerry Vartyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11399824430523673618noreply@blogger.com