No bubble is so iridescent or floats longer than that blown by the successful teacher.

Sir William Osler (1849-1919), 4 Oct. 1911, Glasgow (quoted in: Harvey Cushing, Life of Sir William Osler, vol. 2, ch. 31, 1925).

Mitch Albom wrote Tuesday's with Morrie as a final tribute to his old college professor, Morrie Schwartz, who intended that his death should be his "final thesis." Grim and fascinating, Professor Schwartz's courage in the face of a painful death is truly inspiring. The lucidity and wisdom which Professor Schwartz gained over the years became increasingly pronounced and focused as he contemplated his life and imminent death, as well as his place in the Cosmos while his frail body melted away through A.L.S. (Lou Gehrig's disease). This paper will discuss five of Professor Schwartz aphorisms (or proverbs), which would facilitate learning in subject- specific -and other educational venues.

"So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is devote

An example of an activity that could be used in the classroom is a creative writing project. You tell the students to go home and get a list of things from an adult (preferably a parent) that did not exist thirty years ago. Then, the students can make a list of things that they use all the time. The students can group ideas from each list and write an essay on the similarities of their parents and themselves. This activity can point out the changing of time and the mortality of life. Additionally, it will improve the student's writing skills through drawing inferences and making conclusions.

Therefore, the application of this aphorism would be appropriate in practically any classroom setting, but particularly appropriate in a philosophical environment in which universal truths are discussed. More specifically, encouraging students to trust each other (which does not, of course, mean to naively accept everything people tell you) will enhance their ability to learn and to interact with their peers, their family members and society in general.

The Columbia Dictionary of Quotations is licensed from Columbia University Press. Copyright 1993, 1995 by Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

An activity that could enforce this trust would involve partners. One person would stand directly behind the other and support their partner's weight. Then, they would let their partner fall backward with the promise they will catch their partner before he/she hits the floor. This would provide a difficulty for the partners and would reinforce the fact that it is imperative to trust others in all situations.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Professor Schwartz, Faith Trust, Values Here's, Professor Schwartz's, Human Family, Sociology Literature, History Sciences, Catholic School, Meaning Life, Scheme Things', professor schwartz, meaning life, professor schwartz's, die learn live, tuesday's morrie, die learn, particularly appropriate, emphasis added, devote yourself, learn live, learning environment, columbia university press, particularly appropriate philosophical, learn die learn, wave don't understand,
Approximate Word count = 2422
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)