The Classroom

Three years ago I made reference to a poem that I’ve been looking for  since I was a student teacher. I finally found it. I still don’t know who the author is, so if you can tell me please do, but the message is just as powerful to me today as it was 15 years ago…

WHO BUILDS THE BUILDERS?

There are so many things you could do with your life. You could decide to build houses. Or sell cars.

Or you could determine to build bridges.

Or grow crops. Or design tall buildings.

Or write books. Or act out parts on the stage.

Or, to make your living, you could decide to repair machinery. Or to enforce the laws. Or to program the computers. Or to drive or fly or sail for a living. Or you could collect refuse. Or collect the rent. Or minister to the people. Or defend our country.

Or you could determine to build the planes. The lanes. The trains. Or you could build the laws by which the people will abide. Or develop the ideas through which a better world will be built.

It’s true. There are many, many things you could do with your life. You could decide to do any of these things. And more.

Or, you could decide to teach.

And you would cultivate those who one day will build the houses, sell the cars, construct the bridges, grow the crops, design the buildings, write the books, and act out parts on the stage.

And you would nurture those who will repair the machinery, enforce the laws, program the computers, and drive or fly or sail for a living.

And you would counsel and guide those who will gather the refuse, collect the rent, minister to the people, and defend our country.

And you would inspire and enlighten those who will build the plans, the lanes, and the trains.

And you would interpret the cosmos to those who will fashion the laws and to those who will crystallize the ideas upon which a better world will be built.

Perhaps you could teach.

You could perhaps teach the people who build these things and do these things. And more.

It’s the teachers who build the people who build these things. And more. Much, much more.

They build the builders.