It’s always refreshing to see positive news stories about education, both nationally and here in Missouri. Let’s celebrate a couple of them this morning.
Item 1: Harvard Feel-Good Story.
Probably we’ve all seen the quote by Henry Adams: “A teacher affects eternity. He/She can never tell where their influence stops.” Sometimes we forget how literal that truth can be. Take a moment to reflect on a teacher or two that had a positive effect on you far beyond your time in their classroom!
Twenty-one years ago, at the end of the 1997 school year, sixth grade teacher Judith Toensing from Yuma, Arizona, wrote a brief note on Christin Gilmer’s final report card. It read, “It has been a joy to have you in class. Keep up the good work! Invite me to your Harvard graduation!”
Gilmer saved that note all these years, and this past Spring, she invited Toensing to see her receive her Doctor of Public Health from Harvard.
Harvard Dean Michelle Williams thanked Toensing – and all public school teachers – for the “immeasurably important” work they do.
“You don’t just teach young people. You inspire them, and you propel them along a path of fulfillment and service to others. Your work is what makes our work possible,” Dean Williams said.
[For the complete story, see https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/25/us/teacher-harvard-graduation-21-year-old-note-trnd/index.html ]
May we never do teachers the disservice of forgetting how much they matter, not just in the classrooms, but beyond those walls and into the future, as well.
Item 2: Missouri State School Board
For a delightful change, we have some education news at the state level to be excited about! Governor Parsons has appointed Peter Herschend of Branson and Carol Hallquist of Kansas City to the State Board of Education, allowing that body to be functioning again, after the disastrous developments of the recent past. First, let’s give double kudos to Governor Parsons: Not only has he taken this strong action within two weeks of being sworn in, but he has also made wise, reasonable choices as well. I am not that familiar with Ms Hallquist, but many of us in this area do know of Mr Herschend’s excellent work on that Board – and for Missouri education – in the past.
Living in Branson as well, I have had a few occasions over my career to work with Mr Herschend (and his wife, JoDee) on a project or two, as well as getting to engage in a half-dozen or so conversations with him about education in general. He is balanced, open to new ideas, has good perspective, and possesses great wisdom. He was/is always a polite, respectful listener and conversationalist, even when I suspect he didn’t always agree. His over-riding goal is nothing but the best for Missouri’s schools, especially for their students and teachers. Which is, of course, as it should be. Missouri is lucky he was willing to return to service one more time, and that means things can only be looking up for the near future!
