As a new teacher who is only five years older than many of my students, I have the unique ability to understand what they need since I was in their shoes not too long ago. One thing I needed more than anything in high school was a break; I needed my teachers to recognize how far I was stretching myself between academics, friends, activities, and family. I saw that same need in my students, so I dedicated...

I think on the lost souls of the children the lost potentials, shifted from sunny wills to cold stillness, caught student photo frozen in the last fall they laughed in.   The cancer of cowardice strikes the innocent ones, leaving a wake of gun smoke, the taste of tears, blood echoes and the constricted racking of moments, to minutes, to nullified forevers.   I have taught through...