April 9, 2015 / Kappa Delta Pi Initiation
Kappa Delta Pi –
International Honor Society in Education
Kappa Delta Pi is
committed to the pursuit of excellence in education—gathering elite educators
and providing them with innovative resources to help them make a difference in
the world. Members commit to four
ideals—Fidelity to Humanity, Science, Service and Toil.
Kappa Delta Pi was
founded March 8, 1911, at the University of Illinois. The Chi Iota Chapter at Ma was incorporated
by Dr. Bernard Buell on April 20, 1996.
Members must have a
3.3 GPA and be nominated by a professor in the Maryville College Teacher
Education Program.
Watch the video or read Dr. Simpson's remarks to the 2015 initiates.
Dr. Simpson’s Challenge to the 2015 Initiates into Kappa
Delta Pi
I want you to look closely
at this group of students—top academic performers in majors across the various
academic divisions on this campus with an average GPA of 3.64. You have the potential to be successful in
the profession of your choosing. As
highly motivated students, you have freely chosen to dedicate your professional
lives to the education of our children.
The political pundits claim
that our brightest students do not become teachers. I don’t think so! Maybe they should visit our campus and talk
to our teacher licensure students.
The naysayers argue that
today’s students are self-centered and concerned only with the material things
they will acquire in life. I don’t think
so! They should ask these students about
their values and goals.
The doomsday prophets
lament about the failure of our schools, especially our public schools. I don’t think so! These men and women will be successful wherever
they teach, and their students will be successful.
A few months back we
reached a number in this country that should have caused alarm, but it did
not. For the first time in our nation,
the majority of American children live in poverty. But we must remember, your role as a teacher
is even more critical. Research has
consistently demonstrated that children from poor families must have effective
and creative teachers or they will fail.
Yet, we know that our schools lose a significant number of
our brightest and most creative teachers within the first three years of their
teaching experience. Don’t forget that
our schools desperately need you. They
need your knowledge, your creativity, and most of all your idealism.
However, I must remind you that many schools have a very
powerful, self- appointed committee—the Water Bucket Brigade. It is the task of this brigade, much like
pouring water on a campfire, to stamp out the fires of enthusiasm in new
teachers. They want to destroy your
idealism in the name of their real life “realism” and “I don’t care anymore”
attitudes. However, they understand neither idealism nor realism.
Don’t let anyone, including burned out teachers and
principals, destroy your idealism. Stay
out of the teachers’ lounge! Without high ideals and the struggle for perfection,
a society is doomed to failure. I am
here to reaffirm your idealism. You must
never quit. You will earn the respect of those in you community; you will make
a difference in the lives of children; you will have a positive and lasting
influence on American society. And, when you are named teacher of the year, you
must call us before you call your mother.
Several months ago, I viewed an interview with a former
Tennessee Commissioner of Education. She
spoke of a meeting that she had with a group of very successful entrepreneurs
each of whom had risen from poverty to success.
She said that each of the entrepreneurs could immediately tell you the
teacher that made the difference in his or her life.
I am finishing my 25th year at Maryville College
and 42nd year as a teacher, and at this point in my life, I often
reflect on my success and failure. I am
old enough to have that privilege and you have to listen.
Although I have no idea how it will happen, in my faith
community we believe that we will give a final account of how we lived during this
brief time on earth. The Holy Scripture
that I read has a letter from the Apostle Paul to Christians at
Thessalonica. Paul had taught and poured
his soul into these individuals. He
wrote “For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our
Lord Jesus at his coming? For you are my
glory and joy.”
Just thinking about giving a final account of my life gives
me great pause. When I contemplate on my
many failures, I can only appeal for mercy and forgiveness. This is the very reason I refrain from
judging others. This may seem selfish,
but I am too concerned about my own accountability to worry about others.
However, when I think
of you and the time we have spent pouring our souls into your development as
teachers of our children, with boldness and confidence on that day of final
accounting I will present you to our Lord.
For you are my hope, my joy and my crown of exultation.
In this my 25th year at Maryville College, I
never cease to be amazed at the quality of students who enter our teacher
education program. I surely have the
best job on this planet. I consider it
an honor and privilege to work with you.
You make us very proud.
