Astronauts reach for the planets.  Movie stars aim for the Oscars, and the Golden Globe Awards.  Politicians stump for votes.  Teachers have a loftier goal–they touch tomorrow, or in other words, they touch the future through their influence on students in their classrooms.

Some years ago I walked into a school hallway and saw in big, bold letters on a bulletin board the words, “BELIEVE YOU CAN ACHIEVE.”  I have lifted that exhortation as a theme for this writing.  First of all, in this poem I salute teachers for all their hard work.  Secondly, I put forth a challenge to the children who are learners.

If you are an educator,  I invite you to use all or part of my shout out to children on your bulletin board!  If you are not a teacher, may I suggest that you pass along my poem in its entirety to a teacher you know.

TOUCHING TOMORROW

Touching tomorrow by teaching children,
Sharing the secret that will fill them with hope:

“YOU ARE SPECIAL!
BELIEVE YOU CAN ACHIEVE!
YOU ARE SPECIAL!
YOU BELONG TO YOUR DREAM!“

Their tools are books and pencils
And their workshop is the classroom;
But the teacher’s product has no equal.
Tender lives are given direction
And mistakes find their correction
By the hands that reach out to young people.

Touching tomorrow by teaching children,
Sharing the secret that will fill them with hope:

“YOU ARE SPECIAL!
BELIEVE YOU CAN ACHIEVE!
YOU ARE SPECIAL!
YOU BELONG TO YOUR DREAM!“

A Poem of Praise for Teachers
And Encouragement for Students

By Connie Carlisle Polley, 2018-2019
conniecarlislepolley.com