An Exalted Career
By Allen A. Raymond, Publisher

That's "old hat" to you, of course; teachers do it every day, often under severe, and I believe, undeserved pressure.

Thus teaching is emotionally hard – harder than it should be – and that's not right. Education ought to be the most exalted career path in the world, and once upon a time it really was.

But today, for some unfathomable "drives-me-up-the-wall" reason, the combative juices swirl around us, and we in education continue to take our lumps.

Through all the combat, however, through all of the "downs," there are always courageous, thoughtful, committed individuals who, by the magic of their personalities, the power of their convictions and with talent honed to its finest, are helping make things better tomorrow than they are today.

Twelve years ago – in our May 1993 issue – I told you about Shelley Harwayne and the Manhattan New School, where she was the principal. To know Shelley was to realize she was always making things better for tomorrow than they are today.

An inspiring teacher, author and nationally recognized educator, Shelley – who has since retired – had three dreams on ways "to make things better:"

Dream #1: A lifetime guarantee. "We're going to send children into the world with lifetime skills," Shelley said, "and a lifetime desire for learning. We're going to send them out of this school with a lifetime desire to read, to write, to solve math problems. Guaranteed."

Dream #2: Buy 12, get one free. "For every 12 teachers in a school," she told us, "there should be a 13th teacher who is free to help other teachers. I call it 'white space.' It would add to the dignity of teaching, give a boost to morale and what a training ground for first-year teachers!"

Dream #3: Parent educator in the school. "It's the most important thing I could do for the children; provide a parent educator who could help parents understand how we're teaching, and how parents can support their kids."

"As teachers," Shelley added, "we just don't have the time for as much parent education as I feel is necessary."

Well, that's Shelley Harwayne, an "artist" when it comes to education, a master at blending the rainbow colors of an urban school population with the creative arts of a teacher, and the intellectual commitment and passion of someone who believes teaching is an exalted career.

Back in 1993, we thought we'd never meet another "educational artist" with Shelley's charm, intelligence, talent, passion and commitment to education – but we have. His name is David Harrison, poet, author, business and community leader, a true Renaissance Man. You can meet him in this issue by turning to page 46. The joy of discovery will be your reward.

And when you go to bed tonight, I hope you'll dream that, like Shelley Harwayne and David Harrison, you, too, through your passion and the power of your convictions, will continue to make things better tomorrow than they were today.

But, really, it won't be a dream… that's what teachers like you do every day.

Allen Raymond is the Editor/Publisher for Teaching Pre K-8.