I have come to the frightening conclusion
that I am the decisive element in the classroom.
It's my personal approach that creates the climate.
It's my daily mood that makes the weather.

As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power
to make a child's life miserable or joyous.
I can be a tool of torture
or an instrument of inspiration.
I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal.

In all situations, it is my response
that decides whether a crisis will be
escalated or de-escalated
and a child humanized or dehumanized.
                            -Haim Ginott