When Gentle Persuasion [of Children] Falls On

I've Come To The Frightening Conclusion That I Am The Decisive Element In The Classroom. It's My Personal Approach That Creates The Climate. It's My Daily Mood That Makes The Weather. As A Teacher, I Possess Tremendous Power To Make A Student's Life Miserable Or Joyous. I Can Be A Tool Of Torture Or An Instrument Of Inspiration. I Can Humiliate Or Humor, Hurt Or Heal. In All Situations It Is My Response That Decides Whether A Crisis Will Be Escalated Or De-escalated And A Student Humanized Or De-humanized.

Parents Often Talk About The Younger Generation As If They Didn't Have Anything To Do With It.

A Modern Teacher Educates Children To Value Their Emotions.

When Children Feel Understood, Their Loneliness And Hurt Diminish. When Children Are Understood, Their Love For Their Parent Is Deepened. A Parent's Sympathy Serves As Emotional First Aid For Bruised Feelings. When We Genuinely Acknowledge A Child's Plight And Voice Her Disappointment, She Often Gathers The Strength To Face Reality.

While Parents Possess The Original Key To Their Offspring's Experience, Teachers Have A Spare Key. They, Too, Can Open Or Close The Minds And Hearts Of Children.