Thank the Teachers
Fall is almost here, which means it's back to school. Mr. Rogers once began a talk by saying, "Let's be quiet for a minute. Think back to a teacher who made a difference in your life." My friend, Jim Carroll, was there; he said it was a sacred moment. Do you remember your teachers? One I remember is Mrs. Brilliant--that was really her name. Doesn't she look like a kid? I was a terrible math student but when she made me stay after school for extra help and I stood at the blackboard, algebra suddenly made sense to me. I aced the next test and when she looked over my shoulder to see that I had solved the extra credit question her face absolutely lit up. That look has stayed with me all these years. I didn't realize it then but Mrs. Brilliant showed me what to work towards in my life--to get that much joy from my work. Not as an algebra teacher, but as something meaningful. I wish I could let her know how much she meant to me. This year will be and is al...