The Edge by Lee Culpepper

Also, success is achieved when we take all that we learned in familiar situations of our past, and apply it to the task at hand, in addition to what you indicated in the post. We need talent, preparation, a mentor, and lessons to draw from; be it wrestling in an NCAA tournament, or wrestling with our life, faith, committments, and all other aspects of existence.

i liked how you said you train your students to compete against the best. we need more of that. the idea of a level playing field is great on paper or for the aclu, but not in the real world.

keep up the good fight.
if enough educators revolt against lowering the standards we can save this country

It's unfortunate that often we do not appreciate a mentor until much later. You described the link between mentors and hard work here.

Typically we resent those who make us work hard. Often, it isn't until later that we appreciate what they were doing or even realize that they were working even harder than we were.

I've now been teaching long enough to have some students come back and thank me. Often these same students argued against how hard they had to work back when I was their teacher.

I've been able to thank a few who influenced me. I wish now I could thank a few others.

One must be careful with mentors. If someone is "searching" to be a mentor, I would question the MO.

The "mentor status" MUST be a natural happenstance.

There is a trust or a bond there.

Sometimes, a mentor doesn't even know about it.

Just some thoughts to throw out there...hope ya don't mind...

Hey, Snoop, I don't mind at all. I value your feedback, and appreciate your reading my stuff. Your caution is well put. I have a column coming up that addresses male teachers and female students. I discuss how the relationship between teachers and students should never be a friendship. I reference the military's rule regarding fraternization. My writing's purpose is to addresses how acquirable leadership skills can improve education and teaching. Teachers need to be leaders. And leaders have that obligation to develop (mentor) subordinates. But all the other leadership traits and principles apply in order not to obscure the line of trust that is necessary between leaders and subordinates. As you know, true leaders never cross that line -- no matter what. Semper Fi, Lee

What I fail to regretfully understand is the compensation of the intellect therefore protruding throughout the historic developement of charecter through the suttle bliss eurphoria that is expressed in your blog. What up?

You write very well.

You have an interesting blog here. Very good writing and interesting articles. Wish I had time to write more but lately I havent had time for even my own blog. Keep up the good work. Ill put you on my blog roll and stop by when I can.

One more things...

Thank you for your service.