Indiana Jones

Every once in awhile, educators find themselves in situations where there are simply... no words. But, there are movie lines. Although lost on many elementary-aged pupils, they are simply dynamite when used  appropriately. 

For example,

When leaving a room: "I'll be back"

When working on teamwork: "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of thew few or the one"

During gym class: "There's no crying in baseball"

When being challenged: "Go ahead, make my day"

When payment for a field trip arrives: "Show me the money"

..and my favorite line of late, from Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade..

When surprising a student who thinks they are getting away with murder: 

"I'm like a bad penny, I always turn up."

Jealousy

Every once in awhile, a teacher finds him or herself jealous about something that another has. Perhaps another teacher had some wild/crazy summer experience, receives a stipend for ridiculously easy task, or simply has that one special student that surpasses them all. That is teacher jealousy. It's fairly succinct.

Rarely, we are jealous for other reasons.

It is just not wise to be jealous.

Fast forward to this afternoon, I sat at the desk of principal, hob-knobing about the our daily elementary adventures with one-uppers, juvie-jailers, and the like, when she hits me with her latest story-of-the-day. I don't remember much, other than it was hilarious. What I remember most is what happened next.

"..That's great" I replied. "You need to keep that story in the book that you will write some day. It seriously, a great story. Seriously. I mean it.".

"..Ohh, that story? It's nothing. Wouldn't even crack my Top 50." she stated.

"Huh." I came back plainly. Inside, jealousy and albeit -anger- stirred up like a blazing inferno. Unbelievable. 

I felt a bit shamed. Here she was, with better stories than me. That the likes of mine wouldn't crack a Top 50. I was more than hurt, I was jealous. I wanted her stories. I don't care about my paltry salary, my sore feet, or the fifteen times that I have been on antibiotics this year. I want those stories! 

It is just not wise to be jealous.