A Teacher’s Influence (Quote from Haim Ginott)

I have come to a frightening conclusion.
I am the decisive element in the classroom.
It is my personal approach that creates the climate.
It is 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

Empty Classroom

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Clif

Clif Mims is a Christian, husband, father, teacher, cancer warrior, and fan of the Mississippi State Bulldogs and Memphis Grizzlies.

7 thoughts on “A Teacher’s Influence (Quote from Haim Ginott)”

    1. There is indeed confusion about who is the author of this quote. All the citations that I’ve found suggest that it is from Ginott’s book. I admit that other than Wong and Wong’s The First Days of School, I haven’t yet found a citation rigorous enough on which to hang my hat. I welcome any help in clarifying this as I occasionally use this quote in keynotes, workshops and classes.

  6. AMEN, Clif! This describes interactions with ALL people. Sometimes it’s so difficult to stay in the moment but it’s well worth it.

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