What many people don't know about the legendary basketball coach is that he was really an English teacher disguised as a basketball coach. As a result, the book is full of poems and various written reflections by Coach Wooden. One of my favorites that stops me in my tracks each time I read the book is the poem, "They Ask Me Why I Teach" by Glennice L. Harmon. Throughout the poem, the author states, "They ask me why I teach..." And each time the answer is, "Where could I find more splendid company?" The poem was written in 1948, and I find it interesting to see that the key to really meaningful learning then is the same as it is now. The key is relationships!
As teachers, principals, and support staff, we have the opportunity to get to know tomorrow's leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, etc. when they were young. We get the opportunity to help them find their voice, to develop their talents, and to achieve things they may not know they can achieve. We get to know people when they were "just a boy" who was not yet comfortable in his own skin, or "just a girl" who had no idea the depth of her talent. So, why do we do what we do? Where could we find more splendid company?
