When everything works, enjoy!
By Allen A. Raymond, Publisher

In writing the article, and in an attempt to give you a feel for the school, we commented that, "Trying to find the one ingredient that makes this school tick is like trying to find the one element in a smoothly functioning watch that allows it to tell time. Nothing works unless everything works, and at Brigantine Elementary School everything seems to work."

I realize that's a rather strong statement, so before we published this issue Pat and I checked with each other to be sure we could truly support our statement. We also sent the article to the school, so that members of its staff might tell us if we were going a little "over the top" in our reaction.

One of those who read the article commented, "I had tears in my eyes." Another seemed equally moved, so we're comfortable with our gut reaction; yes, it's indeed a school where "everything seems to work."

I don't have to tell you that's somewhat unusual – but I suspect you're taking it with a grain of salt, which is to be expected when someone expresses a strong opinion on anything – such as the New York Yankees fan, for instance, who claims, "They're the best."

Sure they are, but how about the Mets? And the Boston Red Sox?

But I digress.

Are there things at Brigantine Elementary that don't work as well as they might? Of course. The world, or the school, would be a mind-bogglingly dull and boring place if everything worked.

But once in a while it happens to all of us, and we truly feel like everything's working. It happened to me one day when I was skiing in Colorado. It was cold, the sun was out, the snow was perfect, it wasn't too windy and I felt great because everything worked.

I'm sure you have days like that, too. Something clicks, and you say to yourself, "That was good."

Many years ago, when I was chairman of the school board in Westport, CT, we held several all-night sessions as we negotiated the salary contract. One evening, as we were gathering again, having had one of those sessions the previous night – and then gone to our "day jobs," – I asked everyone, "Well, how did we do today?" A high school math teacher, who was spokesperson for the teachers and administrators, said with a big grin, "I was never better!"

I didn't think of it at the time, but for that day, for that math teacher, "everything worked" – and he felt great.

This month Pat Broderick and I begin our 36th year with this magazine, which we launched in 1971. We've had many days when "everything worked," and we're grateful to you – a teacher – for helping make it happen for us.

I think what I'm trying to say is that if you and I are doing something we like to do, and we're good at it – and you are – there will be glorious days when "everything works."
When it happens to you, enjoy!

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