Setting the stage for achievement

How high should our expectations be for our students? How much do we think they are capable of accomplishing? That depends, I suppose. Because to accurately answer this question for our students requires first that we educators answer the same questions of ourselves. How high should our expectations be for one another, as colleagues? There is only one legitimate answer, of course: very high indeed. We are entrusted with a significant share of a critical task: the productive education and upbringing of our nation's young people. Parents are our partners in this process--together, we are the strongest influences shaping these young lives. But, how many of us start our day reminding ourselves of this responsibility? How often do we pause for just a moment before a day of teaching--or a day of parenting, for that matter--reflecting on how our attitudes impact our students' abilities to accomplish more than they thought they could?