Rather Stand

Rather Stand by Vicki Davis

I'd rather stand alone for the right thing … than be popular for the wrong one.

I'd rather be wise

than smart.

I'd rather find a child's strength

than point out her weakness.

I'd rather find a child crying

than let him cry alone.

I'd rather encourage a colleague with a great idea

than spread gossip.

I'd rather show a child a great way to live

than give a great lecture.

I'd rather help kids answer questions of their own

instead of answering mine.

I'd rather give kids hope

than steal their dreams.

I'd rather be forgotten for kindness

than remembered for cruelty.

I'd rather give the kindness someone does not deserve

than the meanness that they do.

I'd rather be vocal about things that matter

than have those in power happy to see me.

I'd rather empower my students

than assemble a classroom of automatons.

I'd rather fight for a world class education for my students

than accept second rate in peace.

I would rather be hated by a colleague

than let one demean a child.

I'd rather be misunderstood by everyone

than be unforgiving when they make mistakes.

I'd rather  get in trouble for the right things

than praised for the wrong ones.

I'd rather be excellent at one worthwhile endeavor

than mediocre at everything I do.

I'd rather follow my dreams

than waste away in my reality.

I'd rather courageously seek to change lives

than quietly scripted into irrelevance.

I'd rather be called a rebel

than soldier on for the wrong cause.

I'd rather be an epic teacher

than live an easy, comfortable life.

I'd rather share what I learn

than leave other teachers to learn it the hard way.

I'd rather spend my time doing good to good people

than doing evil to evil ones.

I'd rather miss the latest trend on social media

than my son's birthday.

I'd rather people cry when I go

than celebrate when  I'm gone.

I'd rather have a life of “oh well's”

than full of “what if's”

I'd rather stand for my rathers,

than fall for what I'd rather not.

 [guestpost]Written and dedicated to my husband, Kip Davis for his birthday. Because I'd rather have one day in your arms than a lifetime alone.[/guestpost]

[callout]The oh well's and what if's quote is shown as an unknown source and is on many tshirts and quote pages. I cannot find the source but credit that I did not come up with that one verse.[/callout]

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Vicki Davis

Vicki Davis

Vicki Davis is a full-time classroom teacher and IT Director in Georgia, USA. She is Mom of three, wife of one, and loves talking about the wise, transformational use of technology for teaching and doing good in the world. She hosts the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast which interviews teachers around the world about remarkable classroom practices to inspire and help teachers. Vicki focuses on what unites us -- a quest for truly remarkable life-changing teaching and learning. The goal of her work is to provide actionable, encouraging, relevant ideas for teachers that are grounded in the truth and shared with love. Vicki has been teaching since 2002 and blogging since 2005. Vicki has spoken around the world to inspire and help teachers reach their students. She is passionate about helping every child find purpose, passion, and meaning in life with a lifelong commitment to the joy and responsibility of learning. If you talk to Vicki for very long, she will encourage you to "Relate to Educate" or "innovate like a turtle" or to be "a remarkable teacher." She loves to talk to teachers who love their students and are trying to do their best. Twitter is her favorite place to share and she loves to make homemade sourdough bread and cinnamon rolls and enjoys running half marathons with her sisters. You can usually find her laughing with her students or digging into a book.

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The Cool Cat Teacher Blog
Vicki Davis writes The Cool Cat Teacher Blog for classroom teachers everywhere
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