One of my favorite books to read during the holiday season is "The Polar Express." A young boy boards a mysterious train bound for the North Pole where he is offered any gift he desires from someone whom he did not believe in. Throughout the story, he meets a variety of characters from peers to train conductors to train riders who play a role in the boy's journey. While I won't ruin the story for those who haven't read it (or have seen the movie), one of my favorite quotes from the book is "Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see." While this quote for the movie, pertained to a young boy believing in the magic of Christmas, we can also relate this quote to our lives as educators. At times, we have students, much like the boy in the Polar Express, who don't necessarily believe in themselves or in what they are learning. Whether it was a past experience, a lack of confidence or simple disbelief, the feelings are real. Until they start to see success, they do not believe that it is possible. Our students boarded the "train" in September and are embarking on a journey with you. I know that we all believe that students can be successful. We have the opportunity to be the conductors of their train ride. We are taking them on a journey where we can turn doubt into certainty, despair into hope, fear into confidence, uncertainty into belief. As we break for the holidays, don't question the positive impact you are making on our students. They may not yet see the success they have made thus far, but it is real and it is present----Thanks to you! As said in the Polar Express, "The thing about trains is it doesn't matter where they're going. What matters is deciding to get on." In January they will board the train again that is bound for June. Let's keep the train rolling! All aboard!
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Richard M. HayzlerA life long educator and current Principal of Pequannock Township High School in NJ, Rich is excited to share his ideas and thoughts about education and how we can change the world for our students and our staff. Currently Reading
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