Saturday Sayings: Inspire

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I picked up my class list on Thursday.  I've already written down those 24 names about 5 times, with countless more to follow during the next 9 months.  I can't picture most of their faces, and I'm unfamiliar with their little personalities.  I don't even know what strengths or weaknesses to expect, but as the letters of their names find themselves coming from the various tools in hand, I feel the great privilege as well as the enormous responsibility of becoming their first grade teacher.  The voices of the parents in Regie's quote resound loudly in my heart.  

Yesterday my new principal gathered us together for the first time and posted this question on the wall: "What is the purpose of our school?"  My mind could have gone a million directions, but I instantly knew my answer.  

That's what I wrote, and that's even how I wrote it, font and all.  Today I choose to assume that my 24 little ones are all coming to me eager to read, write, and learn.  My purpose is to inspire them.  If I do, then I can only hope that in 9 months they'll return to their parents in the same condition or is it too much to hope for - in better condition.