"Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the Lord: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard."
Leviticus 25.
God's words to Moses on Mt Sinai make good agricultural sense - resting the land occasionally ensures greater productivity. Driving past vast tracts of French farmland gives us the impression that land is deliberately left fallow here...New Zealand countryside seems to be much more intensively farmed by comparison. NOT that I know much about farming, so will stop right here!
I can do words though.The meaning of sabbatical is derived from the word sabbath, which also makes sense. After six years, or seven or eight, in the classroom it is timely to let the mind lie fallow. No sowing, no pruning. I'm translating this to mean 'no preparation, no marking'.
And what bliss it is to be on sabbatical and to be free for a term (or two!) from these two constants of teaching.
And what bliss it is to be on sabbatical and to be free for a term (or two!) from these two constants of teaching.
What a sabbatical DOES provide is time. Time to read. Time to walk. Time to travel.
Time to think of very little, or to consider more weighty matters (something Bruce is very good at). Time to reflect. And time to make plans for the future.
Time to think of very little, or to consider more weighty matters (something Bruce is very good at). Time to reflect. And time to make plans for the future.
I'm very appreciative of this gift of time and would like to say thanks to the St Peter's School Trust Board and to the Principal for the opportunity to let my brain lie fallow awhile.
Not a chance, would most likely be the answer.
ReplyDeleteWorth a try!
ReplyDeleteLooking good Brucey, looking good.
ReplyDelete