Endure the Thistles of Teaching. There’s a story dating back to the eighth century about the Danes attack on Sirling Castle. In a night time attack the shoeless Danes’ scouts stepped on thistles. Their agonized reaction to stepping on the thistles alerted the Scots, the Danes’ enemies, to their presence.

The Scots defeated the Danes.

In teaching there will be thistles. Thistles are a prickly weed which are of little value. The thistles in teaching Carrie great value. They test your commitment to teaching’s s call. I’ve taught for 13 years and I’ve walked on thistles a time or two. From 2008 to 2012 there was the great recession thistle. In 2012, there was the my wife had breast Cancer thistle. In 2013 to 2014 there was the herniated disc thistle. From 2015 to 2016 there was the anxiety thistle. In 2019 to present day there is the COVID-19 thistle.

We will encounter more thistles on our teaching trail. Stay teaching. Endure the thistles.