Guana River WMA March 10, 2016

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Fort Mose and Stokes Landing March 9, 2016

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GTM National Estuarine Research Reserve March 7, 2016

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the time of your life

The arrow of time spins around to March again

Your birthday counts up another year

To give recognition to who you are

To appreciate who you are becoming.

If your classroom were separate from all else

To allow you only to teach and inspire learning

With no outside interference or intrusions

That would be unreal.

Budget constraints and resource limitations

Shifting requirements and education dogmas

Multiple student needs competing for your attention

The day is not long enough to get it all done.

Outside school events give context to your work

As with the Midland Park sewer line sinkhole collapse

So close to home impossible to ignore

The ways our society seems to be falling apart.

Against the backdrop of national politics

The rise of the fascist demagogue spewing hatred

Threatening to put an end to the democratic façade

Such a challenging time to be an optimist.

The failed states produced by regime change aggression

The drone bombs terror endless war refugees

The homeland surveillance state our dysfunctional government

The youth demand a whole new paradigm.

There is a wonderful future to imagine and create

Providing meaningful work for everyone

Growing a culture that values everyone

Building socialism to meet the needs of everyone.

In your classroom you cultivate that possibility

The way that the children learn fair play

To show respect and encourage each other

They will want their adult world to be like this.

Their parents are delighted by what they hear

How their sons and daughters love their teacher

For the example she sets the way she conducts herself

For the academics and life lessons they learn.

This microcosm is your place of goodness

Where you make space to enjoy learning

Where attention is given to you happily

Where all is right with the world