Journal: 1/20/06

Yesterday was a fairly quiet day for me. The 9th graders were taking exams, so I had some extra free time to work on comments and other things. I tried writing comments while listening to my iPod, but soon discovered (as I often have) that I work best when I’m focusing on one activity. So I set my music aside for most of the day and just silently went about my duties. There is something very peaceful, almost sacred, about our school when quiet reigns. Occasionally I walked down the hall to get something, and I noticed – almost felt – the utter peacefulness of the place. Inside the classrooms, little and big people were working together to learn and grow, and they obviously didn’t need to be noisy to do that. Commotion had been replaced by stillness and contentment. Actually, even during my 8th grade classes, there seemed to be a hushed orderliness imposed on everything. For this I am grateful to my students, for they are among the most peaceful people I have ever taught. In my class, they come and go quietly, work quietly, and even speak quietly. It makes for a lot of mild and restful days, like the one I had yesterday.