If you can take your dreams into the classroom,
And always make them part of each day's work--
If you can face the countless petty problems
Nor turn from them nor ever try to shirk--
If you can live so that the child you work with
Deep in his heart knows you to be a man--
If you can take "I can't" from out his language
And put in place a vigorous "I can"--
If you can take Love with you to the classroom,
And yet on Firmness never shut the door--
If you can teach a child the love of Nature
So that he helps himself to all her store--
If you can teach him life is what we make it,
That he himself can be his only bar--
If you can tell him something of the heavens,
Or something of the wonder of a star--
If you, with simple bits of truth and honor,
His better self occasionally reach--
And yet not overdo nor have him dub you
As one who is inclined to ever preach--
If you impart to him a bit of liking
For all the wondrous things we find in print--
Yet have him understand that to be happy,
Play, exercise, fresh air he must not stint--
If you can give of all the best that's in you,
And in the giving always happy be--
If you can find the good that's hidden somewhere
Deep in the heart of every child you see--
If you can do these things and all the others
That teachers everywhere do every day--
You're in the work that you were surely meant for;
Take hold of it! Know it's your place and stay!
_R.J. Gale._