Date: Sun, 6 Oct 1996 12:17:56 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Random Thought: I Am A Teacher

It was one of those lazy Sundays, read the newspaper, and watched _Sunday Morning_. By the time I got around to putting on my rag-a-muffin grubbies go out for my walk, the sun had long since come over the horizon. At least, I think it had come up. The sky was overcast, but the air was refreshingly cool and delightfully breezy. It was an interesting walk during which it was hard for me to get into a rhythm. Sometimes I sometimes I glided along on a tail breeze; sometimes I plodded head down through the resisting wall of a head wind; sometimes I was pushed aside by a glancing gust coming off a side street. Now I know how a fallen leaf feels at the mercy of the dancing autumn air.

Anyway, about three quarters through the walk, with nothing on my mind, although that anonymous poem occasionally popped into my head, a jogger appeared off to my left from a side street. I was impressed with his walking attire. It was as ratty as mine. He slowed down to join me , and together we looked like two runaways from a rag bag. We stayed side-by-side for about two blocks until he ran off another side street. During our very brief sojourn together, I introduced myself. He said to me, "You're that fella at the University who writes letters to newspaper editor about education, aren't you?" I told him I was.

"Like your stuff. What do you do there?"

"I'm a teacher," I answered.

"Thought so. But, what are you doing there? I thought there were nothing but professors at that place."

Before I could engage him, he quickly turned off and sped up. But before got me thinking for the rest of the route. I started feeling like Jean Valjean in _Les Miserables_ singing the penetrating and searching "Who Am I" and thinking about that anonymous poem.

Who am I? My answer is that I am a teacher.

I am a teacher. I do far more and far more important things than just instruct in my discipline.

I am a teacher. I am more in the people business than the information business.

I am a teacher. I have a humbling calling, a mission. I have a noble power, an influence, an authority. I have an awesome and heavy responsibility:

	I am a teacher:  I change the world.
	I am a teacher:  I cultivate visions.
	I am a teacher:  I weave dream catchers.
	I am a teacher:  I influence lives.
	I am a teacher:  I alter courses.
	I am a teacher:  I guide spirits.
	I am a teahcer:  I effect the future.
	I am a teacher:  I save souls.
	I am a teacher:  I develop minds.
	I am a teacher:  I touch hearts.
	I am a teacher:  I make a difference.
	I am a teacher:  I change things.	
	I am a teacher.  I transform beliefs.
	I am a teacher:  I perform magic. 
	I am a teacher:  I make art.
	I am a teacher:  to do all this is within my grasp.