I’d rather be wise
than smart.
I’d rather find a child’s strength
than point out her weakness.
I’d rather find a child crying
than let him cry alone.
I’d rather encourage a colleague with a great idea
than spread gossip.
I’d rather show a child a great way to live
than give a great lecture.
I’d rather help kids answer questions of their own
instead of answering mine.
I’d rather give kids hope
than steal their dreams.
I’d rather be forgotten for kindness
than remembered for cruelty.
I’d rather give the kindness someone does not deserve
than the meanness that they do.
I’d rather be vocal about things that matter
than have those in power happy to see me.
I’d rather empower my students
than assemble a classroom of automatons.
I’d rather fight for a world class education for my students
than accept second rate in peace.
I would rather be hated by a colleague
than let one demean a child.
I’d rather be misunderstood by everyone
than break the confidentiality of a child.
I’d rather get in trouble for the right things
than praised for the wrong ones.
I’d rather be excellent at one worthwhile endeavor
than mediocre at everything I do.
I’d rather follow my dreams
than waste away in my reality.
I’d rather courageously seek to change lives
than quietly scripted into irrelevance.
I’d rather be called a rebel
than soldier on for the wrong cause.
I’d rather be an epic teacher
than free from criticism.
I’d rather share what I learn
than leave other teachers to learn it the hard way.
I’d rather spend my time doing good to good people
than doing evil to evil ones.
I’d rather miss the latest trend on social media
than my son’s birthday.
I’d rather have a life of “oh well’s”
than full of “what if’s”
I’d rather stand for my rathers,
than fall for what I’d rather not.
Written and dedicated to my husband, Kip Davis for his birthday. Because I’d rather have one day in your arms than a lifetime alone. The oh well’s and what if’s quote is shown as an unknown source and is on many tshirts and quote pages. I cannot find the source but credit that I did not come up with that one verse.The post Rather Stand appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog.