My latest obsession is stoicism. Stoicism is essentially the embodiment of virtues like temperance, justice, and courage to reach self-mastery. You know, the easy stuff. If you have ever heard of people like Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, or Epictetus, you may have been on the right path. They taught the importance of embracing all of life (yup, even the bad stuff, especially the bad stuff), not putting off for tomorrow what one can do today, and controlling one’s emotions. So, it pretty much goes without saying — I’m not a practicing stoic, yet an aspiring one.

Courage is a Stoic Virtue

Moira, the astronaut, in my oi and oy diphthong reading passage, on the other hand, embodies the stoic virtue of courage. She volunteers to save planet Earth from an impending asteroid (a la 1998’s sob-inducing Armaggedon). She’s successful in saving the day. This is a reading assignment for third graders after all!

But, courage isn’t just relegated to brave souls like Moira, who risks her life to save humankind. Courage is facing hardship with grace and determination. It is also feeling the fear and doing it anyway. Embodying courage is stepping outside one’s curriculum to ensure you are providing the right kind of reading instruction to bridge the gap from illiteracy to reading empowerment.

Courage is feeling the fear and doing it anyway

Not only was Ruby Bridges’ family brave for standing up for racial and educational equality back in the Jim Crow South, but so was her teacher, Barbara Henry. Barbara also faced threats of physical violence and social isolation for providing an education for Ruby during the 1960-1961 school year. Ruby’s family and Barbara believed in the power of education to change lives.

Teachers Embody Courage

I would venture to say that most teachers embody courage. They are showing up in classrooms with dozens of small children wide-eyed and brazen-mouthed. Some may even face the fear of violent attacks, and clearly, we’ve nearly all been on the receiving end of verbal aggression. Other teachers may work in districts that feel more like corporations. Some of us may be exhausted and on the brink of quitting.

Being courageous can mean living in the present moment, remembering that we’re never guaranteed another day may allow us to see our current circumstances slightly differently. Embrace and be empowered by what you can control, and let go of the things you can’t.

It’s not easy to live like a stoic. But, it is worth aspiring to. You’re a teacher. You’re already halfway there.