I suppose teaching is turning me into something of an activist.
Here are some choice quotes from the book (title above) by Paul Roget Loeb, which I think resonate particularly well with the cynicism, frustrations, and daily grind of teaching, as well as that persistent need to keep showing up, keep trying, and keep believing every day. This is probably true of any job whose difficulty is somehow mitigated by how much we believe in the cause.
"We live in a culture that took often rewards cynicism and mocks idealism."
"The ability to recognize and embrace life's pleasures helps one face its cruelties and disappointments."
"History shows that even seemingly miraculous advances are in fact the result of many people taking small steps together over a long period of time."
"Hope is believing in spite of the evidence, then watching the evidence change."
