BY CATHERINE TSAI
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FORT MITCHELL -- The teachers at Beechwood Independent Schools have a national speaker singing their praises.
"The world needs to see Beechwood," educator Carl Boyd said Thursday. "I'm not being facetious. The world needs to see people who appreciate each other, who demand much above mediocrity." Mr. Boyd, 56, who has traveled as far as Beijing to talk about positive teaching, visited Beechwood teachers on their in-service day Thursday -- classes begin today -- to present two speeches, with song and a little dance sprinkled throughout.
His first address encouraged teachers, parents and the community to strive to be above average and keep expectations high.
"I'm not telling you anything you don't already know," he said.
The afternoon program was a morale boost for teachers and recognition for their efforts. The speech was titled "One Lesson, Two Lessons, Three Lessons, Four" for the name of a song Mr. Boyd wrote and then sang for his listeners.
He received an enthusiastic reception from the teachers, who sang along during his presentation and who also gave him a standing ovation. Afterward, several teachers stayed to talk to Mr. Boyd. Earlier that day, state Rep. Dick Murgatroyd presented Mr. Boyd with a framed certificate recognizing the educator's new honorary title as a Kentucky Colonel.
Mr. Boyd stressed positive education, or teaching with love and respect rather than with fear and intimidation.
"You may not be able to teach people to love, but love will certainly help you teach people," he said.
He encouraged educators to respect colleagues and teach by example instead of preaching messages of love to students.
Between advice to be consistent with discipline and a plea for undedicated teachers to leave the profession, Mr. Boyd praised the support of Beechwood students' parents, some of whom helped teachers paint, sweep and clean rooms Wednesday before open house that night.
He told his audience that teaching is the most important profession, saying teachers' work is just as delicate and fragile as that of a neurosurgeon -- but without the pay.
"You will not get the same kind of monetary rewards," Mr. Boyd said. "Ours is a profession where we are independently wealthy." Still, he said communities should not be afraid to pay teachers what they are worth, lest they lose bright minds to industry.
"Teaching is the most important profession," he said.
Mr. Boyd is scheduled to speak in Fort Wayne, Ind., today. In July 1997, he was one of four American speakers to address the China-U.S. Conference on Education in Beijing.
