 Rising to the challenge
by David Benson, Educational Technology Consultant ()
This is one of those articles where I'm going to try to kill a couple of birds with one stone, but before I get too deep into this article, I want to tell you that when you finish reading the front page of the newsletter, turn inside and read Ria Mastromatteo's article about our new program, Antarctica: 90 Degrees South. Talk about some cool stuff (no pun intended). I have been a fan of the South Pole ever since I could read. But that's because I have a connection to the South Pole: I have an ancestor who was a polar explorer and spent a portion of his life in Antarctica, first racing to the pole and then eventually exploring for new discoveries.
The Antarctic, as I know you are all aware, is a cold and formidable place to explore. My poor ancestor never accomplished any of the goals he set out to achieve but he did manage to gain some notoriety for his leadership qualities. I guess in a way, many teachers I meet and work with on a regular basis have a lot in common with my ancestor (yep, I can hear the comments now about how some days a classroom feels like a cold and formidable place, too).
But more to the point, I believe that anybody willing to step into the classroom is more than willing to take on the daily challenges of teaching. And the leadership qualities an educator must possess well, let's just say that many of our leaders didn't achieve what they did without somebody teaching them the path. Still, when I look back upon my own life, I can honestly say that many of my teachers challenged me to launch my own explorations and inspired me to develop my own style of leadership, and I'm glad they had the courage to step in where many won't.
As for my ancestor, I don't know what kind of teacher he was (or might have been), but you and he all share the common traits of leadership, determination and the ability to rise to the challenge.
So, having managed to string you along this far without revealing the identity of my ancestor, I suppose I should tell you before I close. His name: Sir Ernest Shackleton. (His story is a great read.)
Have a good holiday season. We'll see you all again in the new year!
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