yelling across the chasm

Every week I put a new inspirational quote on the board in my classroom. This week is "To be successful, the desire for success must outweigh the fear of failure." Bill Cosby said that one. Last week was "The future belongs to those who prepare for it today" - Malcolm X. Teacher come in and say "Wow, that's a good one." Then they write it down and I see some form of it somewhere else in the school by the end of the week. I make the kids copy it so many time before I send them back to class. They usually don't get it, and if they do, they don't usually see how it applies to them.

I realized that schools really only serve a few distinct purposes. One, it give people the opportunity to dump their kids off somewhere so they can go to work. Two it takes those kids and separates them into two different groups: Those that can and will, and those who can't or won't. There is a difference in can't and won't, but not a signifigant one, not signifigant enough to make any real difference anyway.

Does it sound like I'm cynical? I'm a realist, I tend to be optimistic most of the time. I try to make the most of a situation, but I digress. The ones who can and will, can and will become a success usually. Those that can't or won't, it's like like taking a mule to the Kentucky Derby, that jackass is a waste of time and resources, but we still have to try for years to achieve the impossible.

If I could figure out what to do or say to try and get as many people to can and will, I'd do it and write a book and become famous.