Teachers as equal

I swear… to hold my teacher in this art equal to my own parents. To make him partner in my livelihood – when he is in need of money to share mine with him. To consider his family as my own brothers and to teach them this art, if they want to learn it – without fee or indenture.Hippocrates on Teachers and Teaching

Imagine if all the learners we taught could have the sentiments expressed by the quote above? To be held equal to the family members and then to share all our worldly possessions without asking for a fee! Wow! As the first group of matriculants leave the school and begin their journey on a road less familiar to them, I wonder who will need our support on this trek and who will return with praises of thanks for giving them the tools to cope and make the correct decisions along the road?

Children are like miniature adults. They are people with their own feelings, their own personalities, and their own preferences. So the question begs to be asked: How would you feel if the school governing body of our school forced you to share?
Pretend you just got a new car. It's a brand new “merc”, and all of your neighbours want to take a spin in your car. Socialism would dictate that you do not have a right to something so wonderful and that you must share with your colleagues. And oh yeah, now that you have a new car, you do not need that old one anymore. You will have to give that one away for free to a fellow teacher who does not have one.
Well, fortunately this is not a socialistic society, and if our government tried to play that game with us, we would be up in arms. We would be toi-toi-ing on the streets, yelling, "What about my rights?"

Sharing is not really a generous offer unless you do it because you want to, and forcing anyone does not help them learn to share. It only steals away the joy of giving. I would like to believe that with the school and its journey into the next year that we all look at what it is that we are willing to share with each other, the learners and the people we meet in and around the school. Share the positive moments the successes and fun stories about the learners.

Mouth marketing has always been an interest of mine and I believe in the power of verbal communication. The mathematicians would be able to work out just how many people we could reach through each one on the staff talking to 10 people about the school. I believe it is 10 to the power of 3 for every staff member if it is a positive comment and 10 to the power of 5 for a negative comment.

Have an awesome weekend!