As our children put the finishing touches on this week’s Seasons of Light Beako, I was reminded of the light that was embodied by a formative figure in my career, Mike Merle-Smith, whom I met when I was a young teacher at Princeton Day School – my first PDS! Bright, patient, creative, and encouraging, he embodied to me and many others everything a good teacher could be. But ultimately what I find most memorable about Mike is summed up by his eyes. It may sound strange, but Mike very literally had the most sparkle in his eyes of anyone I have known. That light spoke of his love of children, his enthusiasm for learning, his warm and genuine way of connecting with people and showing his interest in them, and his utter decency of spirit.
      Beyond being an exemplary teacher of students, Mike was a teacher of teachers. While many of his lessons have stayed with me, a few stand out. At faculty meetings, when teachers would passionately discuss problems with this child or that, Mike would quietly offer that we should try “hand-on-shoulder-time.” Watching Mike with a student reminded us what a powerful tool an occasional touch could be. He at once was able to convey understanding, confidence, nurture, and expectation. His presence could convey all that to groups as well. It was also part of the school mythology that one could always tell a former Merle-Smith student by looking at his or her notebook and overall system of organization. Mike deeply believed in making certain that students developed the bedrock skills that would make success more likely. He also constantly sought to improve his own teaching and embrace new possibilities. Even though I knew Mike toward the premature end of his career due to an on-going battle with Parkinson’s Disease, he was remarkably vibrant and vital. Learning and change invigorated him and seemed to provide him with some of the energy he needed to keep his illness at bay.
      As I have thought about Mike and look ahead to the coming holidays, I am struck that the sparkle in his eyes was about what Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa are ultimately about – light. The light which Mike embodied was both inward and outward. He exuded light, yet he also saw the light in each of his students, in each person. Mike’s way with people honored that light – the value, dignity, humanity – that resides in each of us. The reminder of that light is a gift at this, or any, time of year.
      I send my warmest wishes to all of you for the very best of holidays.

Speaking of Light, a few of you shared how you ensure that Light dominates in your homes:

• Easy lesson I always tell the kids: “you don’t call people names. If you don’t like something someone says or does, address the behavior rather than labeling the person.” I can point to almost all the taglines in today’s political climate and point to that advice as a way to see through rhetoric and think about behavior, how we treat people, how we want to be treated.
• We light a candle at dinner; we always point out the moon; we tour neighborhoods for Xmas lights in December.
• One of the things we do that we find really rewarding and hopefully a generator of “light” is that every day when we tuck the kids in we ask them what they are grateful for from that day. We also share with the kids things that we are grateful for. Its a daily habit / custom with an intention. It’s interesting to hear the things that they come up with which can range from the broad general things, like family and friends generally to very specific things like Miss McFarland said I did a good job today or my classmate and I played freeze tag today.