Part+VI+-+Values,+Ethics,+and+Spirit


 * Chapter 11 - Teaching and Leading: Finding a Balance **
 * When I read that all the teachers at Pico were staying late and coming early, I thought about my family. Before I had children, I was able to be at work early and stay late. With three busy kids, my husband and I are busy late into the evenings on most nights. We both wish we had a "wife....someone who takes care of the home front while (we) focus on (our) career(s)" (p. 124)...(I think that might be a housekeeper or maid btw! For me being a wife means something a whole lot different!) That being said, it is a quandary to be able to have a satisfying home life and career. My husband and I have always found it helpful to remind ourselves of our priorities. It can be easy to get bogged down in the details, but at the end of the day, it really doesn't matter if the house is clean or if a load of laundry went sour because no one put it in the dryer. Those are things that we need to let go and focus on what really matters, which is our relationship with one another and with our children. (SL) **


 * Chapter 12 - A Talk About Values **
 * Balancing caring and excellence is what good parents, teachers and leaders do on a daily basis. Although Ted is in a rough patch in his personal life, he needs someone to demonstrate that they care for him, but also hold him accountable to his responsibilities. We all have had times in which it seemed easier to fall apart, but no one wants to let that happen. It is so much better to have someone outside the fray to give us support and show us a path. This is what Jaime is trying to do for Ted. The only thing I would suggest besides what he has already come up with, is to involve Ted in the conversation. Since he is the one in the thick of it, he might be able to pinpoint what kind of support would be best for him. (SL) **