Monday, August 29, 2011

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL/ DEAR WORLD...

Welcome back to school Trailblazers! We hope you enjoyed a wonderful summer & have gotten off to a great school year. One of my goals is to blog more frequently this year as I almost never run out of things to say! I look forward to highlighting the many achievements that our students & staff will accomplish this year.

My sweet grandmother gave me this "Letter of Introduction" written by a dad whose boy who goes off to school for the first time. I hope you enjoy it.

DEAR WORLD,

My young son starts to school today...it's all going to be strange & new to him for a while, & I wish you would sort of treat him gently.

You see, up to now, he's been king of the roost...he's been boss of the backyard. His Mother has always been around to repair his wounds, & I've always been handy to soothe his feelings.

But now things are going to be different.

This morning he's going to walk down the front steps, wave his hand, and start out on the great adventure...It's an adventure that might take him across continents...It's an adventure that will probably include wars & tragedy & sorrow.

To live his life in the world he has to live in will require faith & love & courage.

So, World, I wish you would sort of take him by his hand & teach him the things he will have to know.

Teach him - but gently, if you can.

He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just; that all men are not true.

But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero...that for every enemy, there is a friend.

It will take time, World, I know, but teach him if you can, that a nickel earned is far more valuable than a dollar found...Teach him to learn to lose...and enjoy winning.

Steer him away from envy, if you can, and teach him the secret of quiet laughter.

Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest people to lick. Teach him, if you can, the wonder of books...but also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, & flowers on a green hill.

In school, World, teach him it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat...Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him they are wrong...Teach him to be gentle with gentle people and tough with tough people.

Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone else is getting on the band wagon...Teach him to listen to all men - but, teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth & take only the good that comes through.

Teach him, if you can, how to laugh when he is sad...Teach him there is no shame in tears...Teach him there can be glory in failure and despair in success.

Teach him to scoff at cynics & to beware of too much sweetness...Teach him to sell his brawn & brains to the highest bidders but never to put a price tag on his heart & soul.

Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob...& to stand & fight if he thinks he's right.

Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself.

Because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind.

Treat him gently, World, but don't coddle him because only the test of fire makes him steel...Let him have the courage to be patient...Let him have the patience to be brave.

This is a big order, World, but see what you can do...He's such a nice little fellow...my son!

Thanks for letting me share that with you!

-Mr. Mac