This past Martin Luther King's Day, I had a chance to discuss a quote with my students during morning meeting. Interestingly, it was the first time I had come across this particular quote. This quote, I felt, was important to share with my students for a variety of reasons. January is a difficult month for all students. In some ways, I do feel as if everyone's spark dims a bit due to the snowy weather and gloomy skies. It is in these months of January and February where it is truly important to find a new spark and remember WHY we do what we do. A few questions I am still trying to answer as a new teacher include the following: "What is Education?" "What is the purpose of Education?" "What do we do when there is not enough time to complete the work we need to complete?"

   As I was exploring topics to discuss, I came across an incredible quote spoken by Martin Luther King Junior himself. 

Intelligence plus character- that is the true goal of education

    When I asked my students what they thought of this particular quote, I found they had a difficult time putting it into their own words. What does it mean to act with character? What is intelligence? The responses I got, although I am not surprised, were more focused on the "intelligence" portion of this quote. A few students pointed to the fact that we go to school to "become smart" and to "learn." Intelligence is "doing well on a test" and "doing your best." Not a single student mentioned the word "character" in their response. 

    How could this be? I was certain that throughout my days I emphasized the importance of character to my students. We participated in team-building brain breaks and morning meeting to work on classroom community. Yet, no one was able to define character. It was a perfect time, I decided to restate the importance of morning meeting and make sure the students understood why we spent our mornings together as a group. In life, character becomes more important that intelligence. Character is how you act when no one is looking. Character is thinking about how you carry yourself in the classroom, how you help others and how you learn with hard work and passion. Character is completing an assignement with 100% effort even if you do not want to. Character is forgiving even when we do not want to forgive. Character is making mistakes and taking responsibility for those mistakes. Character is constantly reflecting on our shortcomings and finding ways to become better members of society.

     In the midst of high-stakes testing and constant data crunching, it remains important to realize what education is truly about. Education is learning to become passionate about something. It is learning to become an excellent student but first and foremost an excellent human being. As we march into the months ahead filled with PSSA testing and grading, let us all remember what education is truly about.