February 5, 2015
(This is part of a 365 project during my 70th year where I write and
illustrate a blog on each day's gift.)
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| A promotional IBM plaque from my grandfather's house. |
THINK. It’s a good
motto that was coined in 1911 by Thomas J. Watson who was in charge of sales
and advertising at the National Cash Register Company. “We don’t get paid for
working with our feet—we get paid for working with our heads.” “THINK”, he wrote on an easel at a
meeting.* This motto followed Watson to
IBM which has trademarked it and uses the word in exhibits and in its products
such as the ThinkPads.
When I first saw an IBM THINK
plaque as a child in my grandfather’s house, I knew nothing about IBM but I did
grow up knowing the importance of education, encouraged by my parents. My
sisters and I did well in school and much of our free time was filled with
reading, imaginative play and creating. My curiosity and love of learning eventually
led to a Doctor of Communications Design at the University of Baltimore and this
love affair continues as I learn something new every day.
As a former teacher who tried to teach my students to think,
I am aware that “thinking” isn’t the private domain of school. Socrates said,
“I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think.” Sadly today, sometimes
thinking takes a back seat in the classroom as more and more time is devoted to
testing and teaching to the tests.
More than a hundred years ago, Sarah Goode is an example of someone who was a
great thinker in spite of a background of very little education. She was born
in 1850 and spent much of her life as a slave, yet she patented a “cabinet
bed”, a precursor to the sofa bed. She was the first woman to have a patent.
At seventy, I continue to think, learn, make connections and
create because I must. It is part of what makes each day exciting. People who understand this “must,” also know the “joy of
think."
My gift today and
every day is the love of learning and thinking.
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It's very cool to have one of your former teacher write this. You realize what good hands helped to "form" you. And I am thankful. And I will be THINKING of you, Bonnie!
ReplyDeleteDarlene, it was always good to have students like you who loved to think.
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