Dear Namers and Named,

Since we read that great poem by JonArno Lawson, I’ve been thinking a lot about names and how we humans use them. And it has reminded me of what a great power and responsibility it is.

Every morning we greet one another by name. Because when humans name something, it means we take it in, learn about it, and watch it grow. That’s what we do when we name hurricanes, when we name newly discovered species or stars, and when we greet each other every morning. 

So when you call your classmate by name this morning, I want you to think about your responsibility to them. Because we owe a lot to the things that we call by name. 

Sincerely,

Mr. Curt