Say something to a teen this week (even if they’re in their 30s).

(TGIS: thank God it’s Smonday)

Poem by Taylor Mali.

Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education
(from this release)

So as parents, teachers, and grown-ups…

• Let’s stop lying.
• Let’s work harder at encouraging a work ethic (with our kids and with ourselves).
• Let’s care more.
• Let’s let it get ugly and uncomfortable more often (in the interest of the long run).
• Let’s lead by example and hold each other accountable to higher standards (as parents, teachers, and grown-ups).
• Let’s be badasses and encourage our kids to be badasses (and I mean that in the loving badass way of the truth).

Let’s wake up and stop mouth breathing our way through the day.

Aren’t we tired of mediocrity? Of lying?

Here’s an NPR story about Providence St. Mel — a school of 212in’ Smovers in Chicago. Worth the 3-minute read. From its founder and principal, Paul Adams…

“I think one of the misnomers is that we have some kind of miracle going on. We spend more time teaching,” Adams says. “We’re in school six days a week. If I could figure out a way to raise enough money, I’d have it seven days a week. Students are in the building from 7 a.m., sometimes even earlier, to 5 and 6 and 7 o’clock at night.”

How hard are you working?

TGIS (thank God it’s Smonday)

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Hey, kids… If we don’t push you or hold you accountable, do it for yourselves. Don’t wait. You matter and you have a verse to contribute. Count!

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One more from Paul Adams (principal)…

“I think I have an obligation to do the very best I can because I stand on the shoulders of many people who have died, who have sacificed and I think that is my contribution to civilization… to move it to the next level.”