Teacher and Student

Windows & Mirrors for All

“We must adjust to changing times and still hold to unchanging principles.”

Julia Coleman, as quoted by one of her students, President Jimmy Carter, in his inaugural address.

On a visit last spring to Atlanta, we made a stop at The Carter Center. Along with biographical information about the 39th President, and his time as president, it explores his path since then “Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope.” I found myself intrigued, and a bit chastened, by the clear-sightedness of some of his early influencers, like Julia Coleman.

Now recognized as a Georgia Woman of Achievement, she was a powerful influence on

students, school systems, and the communities of which they were a part despite working in a rural community in an era when women were often held back, and despite having visual and physical impairments. She lived by a strong and inclusive moral code, leading by example as well as by innovation when a principal and superintendent, promoting innovative curricula which brought subjects often only in elite or urban schools to Plains. She created school lunch programs, exposed students to theater, the arts and debate. Her community might be agricultural, but she worked to see that it was open to a wider world and she promoted citizenship, and community service. In her day she was recognized by first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and later by President Carter and then the state of Georgia.

Her life and influence are a reminder that one doesn’t need to work on the largest, most visible stage to make a difference. What each of us does, how we use our talents, makes a difference. Tiny Plains, Georgia might seem an unlikely base for influencing national politics, but youth with drive can be found everywhere; guiding them matters!

One of her favorite students was Jimmy Carter. Per the wall quotes at the Carter Center, as

President he “saw an urgent need to make the federal government more efficient.” He also

governed in a time of economic and international turmoil-- there were long lines at gas stations during the energy crisis, Israeli athletes were killed by terrorists and Americans were taken hostage in Iran. BUT he still stressed that “We can have an American government that does not oppress or spy on its own people.”

Never underestimate the impact a teacher can make; if you are a teacher-thank you!

In his Nobel address, Carter highlighted the human capacity for choice, promoting positive

choices. “We can choose to alleviate suffering. We can choose to work together for peace.”

Now is a good time to reflect on what unchanging principles we choose. How can we best

uphold them in these changing times? What do we choose to do?

A Passing of Note: In late July we lost song-writer and humorist Tom Lehrer.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/27/arts/music/tom-lehrer-dead.html. He had a unique

talent for highlighting the outrages of the times with humor. Some of his songs were just fun-

the periodic table as a Gilbert and Sullivan patter song anyone? —others were presciently

topical, e.g., “Pollution.” You can listen to his songs for free for a while yet at

https://tomlehrersongs.com/. A good Windows and Mirrors listen might start with “National

Brotherhood Week.” https://tomlehrersongs.com/824-2/.