Be someone others can lean on

One of the more inspirational movies for teachers has to be Lean on Me from 1989 starring Morgan Freeman loosely based on the story of Joe Louis Clark, a real life inner city high school principal in Paterson, New Jersey- a school that was about to be taken over by the state because students standardized test scores were too low.

Bill Withers' song was a number one hit in 1972. He had moved from a small town in West Virginia to inner city L.A. and was missing the strong, supportive, almost familial ties offered by his home town. This song really speaks about what communities can and should be, encouraging, supportive, and nurturing. Principal Joe Clark let kids know that he wanted their school to be safe and supportive- but that it would also have high expectations of students.

Whether you're a teacher or not, you can be available for others. Maybe as a mentor to someone younger, a mentee for someone older. Maybe as a sibling or cousin, niece or nephew. Maybe just as a friend or a neighbor. Can you listen? Can you be patient and positive? Do you have compassion or empathy? Then you can be some one that others can lean on.

Incidentally, it also turns out to often be one of the first songs kids learn to play on the piano because they don't have to change fingers. You just put your fingers in one position and go up and down the keyboard- so if you have a piano, maybe you want to give it a try!