We've Got to Be That Light - A Gift to America's Teachers

A heartfelt thank you to teachers across America for their unwavering dedication to the next generation.

Dr. Jeff Goldstein, Center Director
National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
http://ncesse.org

John Boswell
Symphony of Science
http://symphonyofscience.com

Symphony of Science Remix
Keynote Address "Science - It's Not a Book of Knowledge ... It's a Journey"
National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) National Conference
March 2011, San Francisco, CA

John and I created this video to herald in the new school year. Right now, in this very moment, we wanted to poetically and passionately reaffirm to teachers why they went into teaching, and for the millions of teachers across America, recognize their selfless and noble dedication to lighting the way.

To download the audio track, and continue the journey, with essays and other videos, visit Dr. Jeff's Blog on the Universe http://blogontheuniverse.org/sos

On Twitter: @DoctorJeff (http://twitter.com/doctorjeff)

A special thanks to the National Science Teachers Association for providing the video footage of the March 2011 Keynote Address.

We would also like to thank the following teachers and organizations for thoughtful suggestions and images of joyful learning.

Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum
Birmingham North City Learning Centre, England
Fairmount Elementary School, Carol Fraser, photographer
Gemini Observatory
Houston Symphony, Jami Lupold, photographer
Pearl Hall Elementary, Building Cultural Bridges, Jami Lupold, photographer

Kathleen Benditt, Janice Harvey, Louisa Jaggar, James Jordan, Jennifer Kelly, Stefanie Long, Colleen McIntyre, Sandy Montgomery, Gary Patterson, Pat Smith, Pam Whiffen, Cathy Williamson

Teaching is the eternal bond between young and old that is at its heart--joy.
-drjeff

Lyrics—We've Got to be That Light

Every generation must pass on
The wisdom of the previous generations
If we don't keep the next chain connected to the ones that came before it
It's all gone

And who's the glue between those chains?
It's you, it's you

This is a sacred trust
As educators and parents
A sacred trust
We've got to be that light

We've got to be that light
That shining light that guides the way
We've got to be that light
That shining light that guides the way

A classroom is a sacred place
It's not a room in a school
It's any place
Any place where a teacher helps a child
Patiently and artfully
In their journey

In this sacred place
We must nurture the gift of a question
In this sacred place
The teacher lights the way

This is a sacred trust
As educators and parents
A sacred trust
We've got to be that light

We've got to be that light
That shining light that guides the way
We've got to be that light
That shining light that guides the way

We have to ensure
That testing serves education
We have to ensure
That education does not serve testing

We as a nation now
Are teaching to the test
We as a nation now
Are beating all of the joy out of our classrooms

The book of knowledge is not written in our genes
What's written in our genes is the journey
We should be nurturing that gift of a question
We should help frame that pathway to an answer

The teacher's the guide
It's a student's classroom
It's a student's classroom
They are remarkable explorers

This is a sacred trust
As educators and parents
A sacred trust
We've got to be that light

We've got to be that light
That shining light that guides the way
We've got to be that light
That shining light that guides the way

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[amandahigley]

As a homeschooling mother, I am a teacher of one child. It is very challenging, but also full of the freedom to teach the way she needs. However, I miss the inspiration and support that school teachers get from the school system. Your video brought me to tears, because it gave me that inspiration that I need, in my isolation.  I also loved the groove of the musicalization of your speech; it was very artful. I'll be sharing this with all the homeschooling moms I know. Thank you.

[NCESSE]

@amandahigley Hi Amanda, I'm so glad as a homeschool mom that this video touched you. Homeschooling is part of the foundation of American Education, and this video is as much a gift to homeschool parents as it is to classroom teachers. I understand the isolation, and the dedication. Consider this video dedicated to you & all those making a difference in childrens' lives. I wish I knew how to get the video out to homeschoolers in a big way. If you've any suggestions: jeffgoldstein@ncessse.org

[madeyousquattopee]

I grew up intelligent and articulate, yet infinitely bored with my educational experiences. I seemed to already know what I was being taught and became disengaged. As a result I was classified ADD and prescribed meds. I grew into a criminal, arrested 9 times for crimes ranging from weapons to drugs to assault. All because I was not productively engaged as a student. I am now a 38 father of 3 that feels the regret of wasted growth and desires the opposite for my children. This video touched me.

[NCESSE]

@madeyousquattopee Your comment is so incredibly powerful, and it speaks to a gift ... a gift to your children. Take that wisdom that comes from life's hurdles and turn it into a remarkably powerful force for change. Work with your children to inspire them, nurture them, and steer them in a direction that you now see so clearly. In the end your 'growth' is NOT 'wasted'!! - if the wisdom acquired is channelled into the next generation. The very best wishes for this holiday season. -Jeff G.

[SpazzK]

I wish there were more people that genuinely didn't care about money. People who truly only cared for others and passing on knowledge. When you're a teacher, after you're gone, the students you taught will sit upon your shoulders and push forth the world.

[NCESSE]

@SpazzK I just saw your comment, and it greatly moved me.

We are part of this remarkable legacy of human exploration with every generation standing on the shoulders of generations past. And our teachers and parents are charged with lifting our children on top of those sturdy shoulders. It is beauty in the human condition that goes un-noticed in plain sight. Are teachers not heroes?

For you: The Art of Teaching essay. See the blog post referenced in the "Show More" section above.

-drjeff

[NCESSE]

@hanslol Great question:) "We've Got To Be That Light" is dedicated to teachers and parents. You're right, the bond they ensure between generations should not be limited by national boundaries. However, in the U.S. there is now a overwhelming focus on testing, which is the subject of a verse in the video, hence a U.S. focus. John and I will soon release the world version of this video which does not include that verse. This version will also make the piece timeless. -dj

[lukeoca]

@kinjur The teachers must have interested themselves for it to be passed on

[lukeoca]

People that don't fit the dysfunctional system are not therefore dysfunctional themselves. They are indicators toward a solution which is better for everyone, everywhere

[lukeoca]

@madeyousquattopee You sound like me :)

You are more intelligent for the suffering though, it gives.. perspective

[gavinwince]

WOW! What a video to wake up to! Send this to congress, Obama, etc. Speechless...

[kristinwithni]

I have ADHD and students who are like myself need all the encouragement possible! It isn't a label with a stigma of "failure"; rather it is one of imagination and creativity. We just need a good, enthusiastic teacher who teaches not only content but us as students, not as an ADHD student.

[mariomanhaes]

Dear freind, thank you very much for your work, a journey to improve. I am an american teacher from Brasil. We need this more than you. Thanks thanks a lot. Great labor. Yours Sincerely, @mariomanhaes

[quarkcsj]

Why is this video not with the rest of the videos from Symphony of Science or MelodySheep?

[SliceOfDog]

@NCESSE For the record, the line about "teaching to the test" was one that resonated very strongly with me as a university student in the UK. I feel absolutely that the same problem occurs over here, to the extent that if I asked 'why' something worked in a certain way my maths teacher (who was otherwise a brilliant teacher) would tell me "You don't need to know that for your exams. Just accept that it does work". The pursuit of knowledge is secondary to the regurgitation of arbitrary facts.

[mikehattan]

Very, very inspiring.

[7dfarias]

This demonstrates the truly spirit of teaching and how noble is the educator role! Very inspiring words, indeed! Greetings from Brazil!