I wouldn’t necessarily look at it as an “addiction” per say. But maybe that’s because I’m innately drawn to ways that ensure the positive betterment of human beings. I’m learning so much from my friends here on WOW! Afterall, wasn’t it you that said, “I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework.”

Edith, I am very little and I intend to stay that way – and when I say little I mean I never want to lose the perspective through a child’s eyes. You see, from early on I started to question the world and the adults didn’t like it nor did a lot of my peers – although my parents were fairly supportive of my independent mind – they would still lose their patience occasionally. I didn’t blame my peer group though because they were encouraged to do otherwise. The grownups tried and tried but the little me stood her ground and I am the person I am because of it. The more someone tries to change something about me the more I am determined to show them that being unique is so much fun and beautiful! I got a lot of flack from the grownups(still do) even though I would hardly call myself a trouble maker. I just didn’t want others to tell me what to think. So the “little” has stuck to me and contrary to the belief being little is GREAT :) P.S. I think it’s fantastic when we can turn our emotions into something constructive like art!

No please stay Serena. Talk all you want. We are here to listen and to share back. This is the true mission of not only Edith Ann but of WOW.

Thanks Serena & Edith. I think that is a great idea Edith.. I have a whole bunch of poems on my fridge and people wonder if it really is a fridge or a filing cabinet. I agree we should all continue to look for prose to share! It is definitely one of my cherished past times. PS> Pst Edith! You should make a copy of this and put it on your teacher’s desk: Educator’s Pledge By Barbara H. Wagner I accept not only the responsibility to instruct my students, but the responsibility to take advantage of the opportunity to stimulate and excite young people educationally. I accept the responsibility to encourage my students to believe in themselves, and I will do this by helping them to develop specific awareness of the power that each one of them possesses to determine their own destiny. I will challenge my students to reach just beyond that point where they are comfortable, so they will discover that their own perceptions of their potential are not their true limits. As I set challenging tasks and goals before my students, I will guide them through the specific steps that will enable each one to reach these goals. This setting of high standards and giving the proper guidance to achievement will enable my students to become aware of their true potential, which is, through step-by-step disciplines and hard work, to go beyond what they ever thought possible. I will take advantage of the opportunity to guide my students to a concrete understanding of their own abilities: * to question, rather than to just accept what they are told, * to seek answers, when there are no simple solutions, * to seek to understand, when true understanding requires grappling and wrestling with difficult concepts and ideas, * to reason, using their own minds as sources of original thought, * and to become contributors to, rather than just partakers of, the well-being of the world in which they live. My educational goal is the empowerment of my students.

One of my favorite poems. I thought it would be nice to share here since we are a philosophic group! ————— Children Learn What They Live If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn. If children live with hostility, they learn to fight. If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive. If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves. If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy. If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy. If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty. If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence. If children live with tolerance, they learn patience. If children live with praise, they learn appreciation. If children live with acceptance, they learn to love. If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves. If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal. If children live with sharing, they learn generosity. If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness. If children live with fairness, they learn justice. If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect. If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them. If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live. —- By Dorothy Law Nolte