I had a beautiful conversation with (what I believe to be) one of the greatest teachers and mentors to me. She is a complete expert in early childhood education and has worked around 50 years in the field in various positions. We talked today "in her den" about the future of education, what she hopes for one day, the memories she has had, the wonders she has learned and the advice she wishes to pass on to teachers still within the field. To say I admire this teacher is a great understatement. Her intelligence is beyond me, her vision articulate and her pure joy for the field unmatched and completely unwavering. Towards the end of our conversation (which happened to go in many directions) she opened up her cupboard of 37 years taped with quotes and cards and gifts from children and she tapped one important quote on the cupboard and she told me to read it: 

I have come to a frightening conclusion. I am the decisive element in my classroom. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or dehumanized. 

Haim Ginott- Between Teacher and Child

And I have to say after I read it, I knew immedietely that I would have to print out my own copy and place it in my own cupboard. And I know that I will think of this teacher-mentor every time I read it. Knowing that she shared a part of herself with me that was truly special. Something I left with in our chat was this: I have wanted to continue on with education for a lifetime because I want to make happy people. Every child deserves a happy beginning. Don't you think? It is happiness from which the foundation of education is built upon. It is happiness that fosters curiosity and a happy spirit. We all want to be happy beings.