“The
function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think
critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true
education.”
Martin
Luther King, Jr.
By
Tommie Saylor
Kennedy
High School Principal
Iron
ore is wrenched from the ground and heated to incredible temperatures to
separate the iron from the rest of the minerals, forming ingots of raw
iron. But, these ingots are unfinished. As such, have very little purpose
or use.
To
make these ingots functional they must be heated again and hammered and
hammered and hammered again to drive out the impurities. If done
properly, by mixing the proper amount of other metals, this raw iron becomes an
alloy whose strength is legendary. An entire world can be built upon an alloy
known as steel.
Often
educators are asked, “How can we be so hard on kids?” The answer: We are making
steel!
Being
hard on students is not easy. We agonize over such decisions, often keeping us
up late at nigh. It is not within our nature to be hard on students. But,
we understand that life is hard, and if we are to prepare students for the
hardships of life, we need to push them to strengthen their character and
prepare them for the uncertainties of life.
As
educators, our success is not measured by standardized test scores, nor by
graduation rates, but by the number of our students who find achievement in
life.
How
and where will you lead them. Making Kennedy the school of choice. Excellence
by design.
