When I was an elementary school principal I remember hiring a
teacher who had a track record of excellent test scores. 100% of her students
passed the state test every year. I thought to myself, “I’ve got to hire this
person before someone else does!” I soon realized why she had the test scores
that she had. I also realized why her principal was not upset to see her go. She
worked those students so hard day and night that they had little time for
anything else. Hours of homework at night and a strict adherence to structure
during the day were the norm. Parents often entered my office to tell me that their
children cried about coming to school each morning. It was no longer fun for
them. I listened politely and tried to reassure them that they would be pleased
with the growth their children made by the end of the year. I felt awful for
those children. As I have grown older I realize that it is very important for
students to enjoy learning. If we want them to be lifelong learners they need
to enjoy it, or at a minimum not hate it! The teacher wanted to continue her
track record of perfection. It was all about test scores. On the surface it
seemed she valued her track record more than her relationship with the
children. How will her students remember her in the future? Will she receive an
invitation to their high school graduation? I seriously doubt it. We all want
to be successful at what we do, but I want to argue that it is more important
to be significant in the lives of our students.
What is the
difference between success and significance? I know a lot of people who believe
they are successful because they have everything they want, i.e. big house,
expensive cars, boats. In essence what they have done is add value to
themselves. I believe significance comes when you add value to others. How do
we become significant over the course of our teaching career?
- Know your purpose in life. If your purpose is to gather material wealth, then you are quite frankly squandering your life.
- Sow seeds that benefit others
- Significance takes time. It doesn’t happen in a day.
- Significance requires giving yourself away.
- Success can last a lifetime; significance can last several lifetimes.
- Success asks how can I add value to myself? Significance asks how can I add value to others?
·
If
we pursue success, our joy is the result of our success; if we pursue
significance, our joy is the result of others’ success.
My final thoughts
on success versus significance are these. 1) It’s extremely rewarding to add
value to children. To see them grow and add value to their families and others.
2) It’s productive to get beyond ourselves to help people grow and develop. 3)
Working to be significant instead of successful pleases God.
How will your students and history remember you? Think about it as you watch this clip from The Emperor's Club.
“When you influence a child, you influence a life. When you
influence a father, you influence a family. When you influence a leader you
influence all who look to him or her for leadership.” How will history remember
you? Successful or Significant?
