On Wednesday, my principal shared this poem with the staff:
TWO CHILDREN
Same family,
Same neighborhood,
Same school,
Same stress,
Same neglect,
Same abuse,
Sullen, withdrawn,
One shrinks,
The other grows,
Warm, popular.
One finds nourishment,
the other hardens.
What is the difference?
One found a caring adult,
The other did not,
One was encouraged,
The other was not,
One was expected to succeed,
The other was assumed to fail.
One pops back, one stays down.
Both are children
Both are the future.
~ Thomas E. Baker
Wow . . . goosebumps, right? I guess one teacher can make the difference as many of you commented. My reminder to not give up!
I will be sharing this post on twitter, this poem is amazing, poignant and should be read by every educator (and citizen)! Lovely, thank you so much for sharing this poem today.
ReplyDeleteWow, Michelle & it's so like your poem, the concern, the feelings. You must have a caring principal. Does he share something like this often? Thank you for sharing with us!
ReplyDeleteMichelle, this is a powerful reminder of the impact we can have on children. You are right, finding someone who cares can make all the difference. The contrast between the two children helped illustrate the significance of caring.
ReplyDeleteI am goin to share this poem with my school staff- need to hear it!
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