#05 My First Letter to You
Dear reader,
I know we've already met and you might think it strange to be writing a letter of introduction to you now but I've learned, and you will learn, that I rarely do things in the way that is expected by most. For some reason, be it chance, destiny, coincidence, fate (or just your counselor), I am your teacher. I don't think you heard me: I AM YOUR TEACHER!!! Clearly, I am more excited by this prospect than you are for the time being.
The truth is, I don't know if I'm up to the task. Or rather, I don't know if I am capable or the best teacher for YOU. I want to be. I will try my best to be. Whether you know it or not, these are the feelings of most teachers. We just want to be good enough for you.
Have you heard the story where Hitler got rejected from art school? After that, everyone says something to the effect of "The whole world could have been different." Imagine the pressure of that kind of story on EVERY teacher in the world? If only her English teacher could have been better. . . It's a lot to take on. And as you can see, my sense of humor is maybe not very teachery. But I am. I'm very teachery. I WILL TEACH THE SHINOLA OUT OF YOU. That's a promise. And you can SKETCHNOTE that.
The truth is--as a whole--you know more about teaching than I do. You know what is interesting and engaging and I just have to throw a bunch of lessons and ideas at you and hope that one hits you so hard that before you get knocked out and wake up in the nurse's office, you learn something important in class.
You probably know by now that I think reading and writing are important. In fact, I think they are the most important things to learn in life. I know you don't believe me. I will make it my personal mission to convince you of the importance of reading and writing by the end of the 2019-20 school year. Until then, you will have to take a leap of faith and just trust me. I know trust is not something you give over easily but I am asking, pleading, begging you to trust me on just this one issue: Reading and Writing are important.
In the 4th century, this ancient guy named Aristotle wrote about the three lives of man. One life is about pleasure. One life is about honor in society. And the last life is about knowledge and thinking. My question for you, dear reader, is this: Which life will lead to happiness?
I know we've already met and you might think it strange to be writing a letter of introduction to you now but I've learned, and you will learn, that I rarely do things in the way that is expected by most. For some reason, be it chance, destiny, coincidence, fate (or just your counselor), I am your teacher. I don't think you heard me: I AM YOUR TEACHER!!! Clearly, I am more excited by this prospect than you are for the time being.
The truth is, I don't know if I'm up to the task. Or rather, I don't know if I am capable or the best teacher for YOU. I want to be. I will try my best to be. Whether you know it or not, these are the feelings of most teachers. We just want to be good enough for you.
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| 1906 Drawing from Hitler's Art Book |
Have you heard the story where Hitler got rejected from art school? After that, everyone says something to the effect of "The whole world could have been different." Imagine the pressure of that kind of story on EVERY teacher in the world? If only her English teacher could have been better. . . It's a lot to take on. And as you can see, my sense of humor is maybe not very teachery. But I am. I'm very teachery. I WILL TEACH THE SHINOLA OUT OF YOU. That's a promise. And you can SKETCHNOTE that.
The truth is--as a whole--you know more about teaching than I do. You know what is interesting and engaging and I just have to throw a bunch of lessons and ideas at you and hope that one hits you so hard that before you get knocked out and wake up in the nurse's office, you learn something important in class.
 |
| Aristotle by Francesco Hayez |
In the 4th century, this ancient guy named Aristotle wrote about the three lives of man. One life is about pleasure. One life is about honor in society. And the last life is about knowledge and thinking. My question for you, dear reader, is this: Which life will lead to happiness?
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