Magic Feather, 2

 As I stated in a previous post, this is the first year I am doing next to nothing after 49 years in education as a teacher, coach, counselor, and administrator. I have loved almost all of it, and I firmly believe that those who I worked alongside of, and the kids I've have the pleasure to work with, made me better. Better as a teacher. Better as a counselor, and better as an administrator. I've been blessed and can only hope I wasn't a burden to them. 

Next week marks what I call "teacher week" in my former school district. The veteran teachers show up along with the new hires- some brand new, and others who have transferred into our district. I have always looked forward to teacher week, especially the last day, Friday. That was my day to motivate and set the tone for the coming year.

In the past, I led my staff through various scenarios. One year, I talked about geese and how they flew in a V formation. Something that I learned and then imparted to my staff was that when the lead goose was tired, he or she would drop back and another leader would take the point. Most goose calls, the honks, came from the back of the V, and the honk was encouragement to the lead goose. You can see the point I tried to make with my staff. There will be others who lead, but it is important for others to step up and lead from time to time, and others "voice" their encouragement from the back. 

One year, I gave each of my staff members a small compass. The idea was for the staff member to not only lead in direction, but help others, especially kids, find their true north. Another year, I gave each staff member one Lego. As you know, no one can make something from one Lego. But if several staff members brought their Legos together, something could be made. The idea was that of and by ourselves, we aren't as effective unless we work together. 

One year, I asked the carpentry and CTE guys to make me posts with a platform so the posts could stand on their own. Then I labeled each post with a talent, or something fun to do, or an interest, even a type of food. Then, I asked each staff member to string his or her piece of colored yarn from one post to another. By doing so, a large and colorful web was created. The idea was that we are more alike than not. 

In my last year, I spoke about our two dogs, both rescued. One, Daisy, a Golden Retriever, and Stella, a Beagle-Lab mix. Different as night and day. We've had Stella for ten years now, and it has been only recently that she will be friendly towards me. Someone, probably a male, abused her, and she distrusts most men, including me. I then had the staff write at least one positive thing a teacher at any level told them. Afterward, I asked them to write one negative thing a teacher at any level told them. Each teacher had an easier time remembering the negative statement than the positive statement. I asked for volunteers to read what they had written. It was painful, and there were tears. While they read their memory, I took an overhead projector and ripped up a picture I had projected on the screen. With each comment, a new rip. When I had the teachers read out loud a positive thing said to them, I tried to put together the picture, but it still showed the rips and tears. The point is that what we say to a child- any child, ours, someone else's, even what we say to our fellow co-workers, takes a toll and the "picture" or "person" is never fully healed. 

My favorite, though, was the Magic Feather. It is the story of Timothy Q. Mouse and Dumbo. Here is the story, taken from a post I wrote in 2013.

I’m not exactly sure why, but Dumbo has been one of my favorite characters since I was a toddler. I’m not sure who gave it to me, but I even remember the stuffed animal I couldn’t part with, a baby elephant with a red corduroy vest and big red corduroy ears. 

In the Disney movie Dumbo, a baby elephant was ‘delivered’ to Mrs. Jumbo, and it had big, floppy ears. He was made fun of and wasn’t accepted. During one of the circus acts, Dumbo was supposed to be at the top of the elephant pyramid, but tripped over his ears, toppling the Big Top and injuring the other elephants. He was banished from the act and turned into a clown. His feelings were hurt. But Timothy Q. Mouse felt sorry for him. Timothy convinced Dumbo that if he held a ‘Magic Feather’ in his trunk, he could fly. When Dumbo leapt from the platform way up in the Big Top, he lost his feather and it was only Timothy’s urgent prodding and convincing that indeed, Dumbo flew and became the darling of the circus and turned the scorn of the other elephants into respect.

A lot to think about in this one.

I could talk about acceptance and making fun of another because he or she was different.

Not today.

Legend has it that elephants are afraid of mice. Not sure if that’s true or not, but I thought it interesting that an “enemy” was chosen as Dumbo’s “friend”. Upon seeing Dumbo picked on and made fun of, the smallest of creatures, an “enemy” came to his defense and rescue. He became Dumbo’s mentor, his cheerleader, his coach, his counselor and his teacher. 

How often I see individuals of all walks and stations in life looking out for someone! 

Earlier this year, there was a student trying to pump ketchup onto her tray when an air bubble caused ketchup to burst onto her blouse and slacks. Two students saw it happen, left their lunch and took this young lady into the bathroom to help her get cleaned up. 

The interesting thing about this story? 

Only one student knew who the girl was, and only as an acquaintance. The other girl didn’t know her, but saw she needed help. Easily, the two girls could have laughed. Easily, the two girls could have kept on eating their lunch. After all, they only have twenty or twenty-five minutes to do so. But they didn’t. They saw someone in need and helped out. They moved so quickly that no one could laugh or make fun of the girl.

And what of the ‘Magic Feather’?

A couple of years ago at the beginning of the year, I showed a brief clip of Dumbo and challenged my teachers and staff to be the Timothy Q. Mouse for at least one student, and somehow, someway give that student a ‘Magic Feather’ to help that student ‘fly’. For some, it was a challenge. It takes time. It takes effort. Sometimes, there doesn’t seem to be the expected results. And sometimes, there is no appreciation given. 

But now and then ...

Pat is a teacher who has a difficult student in a tough group of students in one class. The student was disruptive, belligerent, and passive-aggressive, you name it. Pat told her what was expected and reminded her when she wasn’t rising to those expectations. Then, Pat went above and beyond. She noticed when the student met those expectations and complimented her, saying things like, “Good job!” or “Keep up the good work!” and “I appreciate your effort!” Those sorts of things.

One Friday as the girl left Pat’s room, she handed Pat a note thanking her for caring, for supporting her, for being there.

Kids notice. We notice.

All of us, especially kids, need a Timothy Q. Mouse in their lives. Sometimes we need a mentor, a sounding board, a coach. Sometimes we need a shoulder to lean on, someone to listen to us, and to be silent with us. There are times when we need support, comfort, or a friend.

And sometimes we need a Magic Feather to make it work. Perhaps, and to me the best thing, is that we can be that Magic Feather for each other, for someone else. We can convince someone that flight is possible, that it is possible to soar above the clouds and into the sun, and beyond the horizon. 

To be a Magic Feather for someone. Something to think about ...

Live Your Life, and Make A Difference!

For My Readers:   

Black Yéʼii received a 2025 Maxy Finalist Award for Thriller and Suspense. It previously won a Literary Titan Gold Book Award. It is available in Paperback and on Kindle. An Audible format will be made available in just a short time. 

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If you want more of the backstory to Black Yéʼii (The Evil One) check out my previous book, Caught in a Web, which is available in paperback, Kindle, and Audible. BestThrillers called it “One of the best Crime Fiction Books of 2018!” It was also a PenCraft Literary Award Winner!

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Fan Mail won a 2023 Maxy Finalist for Action and Adventure. It previously won a 2023 Reader’s Favorite Silver Book Award. It is available in Audible format, as well as Paperback and Kindle.

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