One of my favorite quotes, one that I think truly encapsulates our profession, is by the remarkable Socrates, who said, “We cannot live better than in seeking to become still better than we already are.” Think about it; isn’t that what we all do? When we go to summer workshops, attend weekend symposiums, take advanced classes, or read an informative book, I believe we are living what Socrates had in mind. When we push ourselves to get ever better, we honor those profound words, and our students are the beneficiaries of those efforts.
A profound corollary to that sentiment can be found in the words of the Brazilian Novelist, Paulo Coelho, who said, “When we strive to become better than we are, everything” (and if I may add to his words, even more applicably for us as teachers, everyone) “around us becomes better too.” With every new idea we find, every new technique we learn, every new perspective we gain, everyone around us – our students – become better. And isn’t that the very essence of education at its best?
Peter Loel Boonshaft, Director of Education
KHS America
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