You have him now...my son.
He looks a little neater than he usually will. His hair will often not be combed, nor his shoes shined so brightly. But today is different. Today is the first day of school. A special day.
My son has waited all summer to meet you as, I must confess, have I. For yours is a great profession, charged with great responsibility...the mind of a child. And we want to thank you now, his father and I, for caring.
Although he does not recognize the fact yet, my son will know that you draw from your past experiences and your education for the purpose of teaching him. He has a busy young boy's innate ability for sensing the truth, and for this reason he has great trust in you.
When he returns home this afternoon, he will speak of no one but you. He will go to great lengths to keep this from you, but he admires you greatly. He will complain that you give him too much work, yet he will study; for he hopes for your approval. Smile gently but once, and he will become your slave.
We, his family, will find our place in the background. It is to you now that he will take his questions. Opinions that his father and I will venture may be terminated with the indisputable, "But my teacher said!"
I ask that you do not become discouraged. Do not let the thoughtlessness of some nor the trivialities of the day deter you.
For my son, I ask that you, by your example, keep alive his desire for knowledge. Instill in him a dream for the future and a sense of reality to capture his dream. Teach him, too, to reason logically and to have an uncompromising conscience to guide him. Inspire him to question. Encourage his individualism. Tell him each day of his country that he may know pride. Remind him of a never-ending responsibility to his fellowmen. But above all, teach him Shakespeare's words, "To think own self be true." For this must be the foundation of his life.
If you can teach but one small part of this, yours shall indeed be a job well done.
By Nancy Esher
(This was something giving to me out of an old magazine from years ago
He looks a little neater than he usually will. His hair will often not be combed, nor his shoes shined so brightly. But today is different. Today is the first day of school. A special day.
My son has waited all summer to meet you as, I must confess, have I. For yours is a great profession, charged with great responsibility...the mind of a child. And we want to thank you now, his father and I, for caring.
Although he does not recognize the fact yet, my son will know that you draw from your past experiences and your education for the purpose of teaching him. He has a busy young boy's innate ability for sensing the truth, and for this reason he has great trust in you.
When he returns home this afternoon, he will speak of no one but you. He will go to great lengths to keep this from you, but he admires you greatly. He will complain that you give him too much work, yet he will study; for he hopes for your approval. Smile gently but once, and he will become your slave.
We, his family, will find our place in the background. It is to you now that he will take his questions. Opinions that his father and I will venture may be terminated with the indisputable, "But my teacher said!"
I ask that you do not become discouraged. Do not let the thoughtlessness of some nor the trivialities of the day deter you.
For my son, I ask that you, by your example, keep alive his desire for knowledge. Instill in him a dream for the future and a sense of reality to capture his dream. Teach him, too, to reason logically and to have an uncompromising conscience to guide him. Inspire him to question. Encourage his individualism. Tell him each day of his country that he may know pride. Remind him of a never-ending responsibility to his fellowmen. But above all, teach him Shakespeare's words, "To think own self be true." For this must be the foundation of his life.
If you can teach but one small part of this, yours shall indeed be a job well done.
By Nancy Esher
(This was something giving to me out of an old magazine from years ago
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